starttime 1241725433.49922
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER H
THE NAYS ARE 114.
ONE VOTING PRESENT.
THE BILL IS PASSED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
MR. FRANK: MR. SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRTEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS ARISE?
MR. FRANK: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT IN THE ENGROSSMENT
OF H.R. 1738, PUNCTUATION MAY
BE CHANGED AND BROUGHT BACK TO
THE HOUSE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER, A
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MADAM
SECRETARY. THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTED TO INFORM THE HOUSE
THAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED S.
454, AN ACT CITED AS THE
WEAPONS ACQUISITION REFORM ACT
OF 2009, IN WHICH THE
CONCURRENCE OF THE HOUSE IS
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
AMENDMENT TO TITLE 19 IS
ADOPTED.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE AN
AMENDMENT -- A MESSAGE.
EX
THE CLERK: TO THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES, SECTION
202-D OF THE NATIONAL
EMERGENCIES ACT, 50 U.S.C.
122-D PROVIDES FOR THE
AUTOMATIC TERMINATION OF THE
EMERGENCY UNLESS THE PRESIDENT
PUBLISHES IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER STATING THAT THE
EMERGENCY IS TO CONTINUE IN
EFFECT BEYOND THE ANNIVERSARY
DATE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS
PROVISION I HAVE SENT TO THE
FEDERAL REGISTER FOR
PUBLICATION THE ENCLOSED NOTICE
STATING THAT THE NATIONAL
EMERGENCY WILL RESPECT -- WITH
RESPECT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SYRIA DECLARE AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER 1338 OF MAY 11, 2004, AND
RELIED UPON FOR ADDITIONAL
STEPS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE ORDER
1339 OF APRIL 25, 2006, AND
EXECUTIVE ORDER 14360 OF
FEBRUARY 13, 2008, IS TO
CONTINUE IN EFFECT BEYOND MAY
11, 2009.
THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF SYRIA IN SUPPORTING
TERRORISM, PURSUING WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION AND MISSILE
PROGRAMS AND UNDERMINING U.S.
AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS WITH
RESPECT TO THE STABILIZATION
AND RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ POSE
A CONTINUING, UNUSUAL AND
EXTRAORDINARY THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, FOREIGN
POLICY AND ECONOMY OF THE
UNITED STATES.
FOR THESE REASONS I HAVE
DETERMINED THAT IT IS NECESSARY
TO CONTINUE IN EFFECT THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARED
WITH RESPECT TO THIS THREAT AND
TO MAINTAIN AND ENFORCE THE
SANCTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS
NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
SIGNED, BARACK OBAMA, THE WHITE
HOUSE, MAY 7, 2009. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AND ORDERED
PRINTED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
MR. CANTOR: THANK YOU,
SPEAKER.
I ASK TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE FOR THE PURPOSES OF
INQUIRING ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S
SCHEDULE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE SPEAKER
AND I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND, THE MAJORITY
LEADER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ANNOUNCING NEXT WEEK'S
SCHEDULE.
MR. HOYER: I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
ONDAY, MR. SPEAKER, THE
HOUSE WILL MEET IN PRO FORMA SESSION AT 2:00 P.M.
ON TUESDAY THE HOUSE WILL MEET
AT 12:30 P.M. FOR MORNING HOUR
DEBATE AND 2:00 P.M. FOR
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS WITH VOTES
POSTPONED UNTIL 6:30.
ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY THE HOUSE WILL MEET AT 10:00 FOR
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.
ONRIDAY THE HOUSE WILL MEET
AT 9:00 A.M. FOR LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS.
WE WILL CONSIDER SEVERAL BILLS
UNDER SUSPENSION OF THE RULES.
A COMPLETE LIST OF THOSE BILLS
WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE END OF
BUSINESS TOMORROW.
IN ADDITION WE WILL CONSIDER
H.R. 2187, THE 21ST CENTURY
GREEN HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC
SCHOOLS FACILITIES ACT, H.R.
2101 AND THE FISCAL 2009
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
BILL.
MR. CANTOR: MR. SPEAKER, I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN. MR. SPEAKER,'D ASK THE
GENTLEMAN WHAT DAYS THAT HE
WOULD THINK THAT THE MEASURES
HE DISCUSSED WOULD COME TO THE
FLOOR NEXT WEEK.
MR. HOYER: AND I --
MR. CANTOR: AND I YIELD.
MR. HOYER: THE 21ST CENTURY
GREEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FACILITIES
ACT WILL BE ON THE FLOOR
TUESDAY -- WEDNESDAY.
THE WEAPONS ACQUISITION SYSTEM
AND SUPPLEMENTAL I WOULD EXCEPT
THE PPLEMENTAL ON THURSDAY OR
FRIDAY, DEPENDING UPON HOW OUR
BUSINESS PROCEEDS.
MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR THAT.
AND AS, MR. SPEAKER, AS THE
GENTLEMAN HAS DISCUSSED NEXT
WEEK'S SCHEDULE, I'DIKE TO
ASK THE GENTLEMAN IF HE COULD
GIVE THE HOUSE AND THE PUBLIC A
SENSE OF WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE
FOLLOWING WEEK AS WELL AND I'D
YIELD.
MR. HOYER: WELL, WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF PIECES OF
LEGISLATION.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OVER THIS WORK
PERIOD.
WE DID THE WATER RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ACT, CREDIT CARD LEGISLATION, HATE
CRIMES, BUDGET CONFERENCE
REPORT, MORTGAGE REFORM AND
ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING
WHICH WE PASSED, AND THE FIGHT
FRAUD ACT, WHICH WE PASSED
TODAY OR YESTERDAY AND WE DID
THE PREDATORY LENDING.
IN ADDITION TO THE ITEMS I
ALREADY MENTIONED FOR NEXT
WEEK, WE'LL BE KEEPING
OBVIOUSLY IN TOUCH WITH THE
SENATE AS TO WHAT THEY ARE
PASSING.
WE GET A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS
CONFERENCED BEFORE WE HAVE OUR
BREAK ON MEMORIAL DAY.
WE HOPE THAT WILL HAPPEN AS
WELL.
BU
THAT WILL BE PENDING.
I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE
D.C. VOTE BILL.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT BEFORE
THE MEMORIAL DAYBREAK.
AND WE WILL SEE WHAT THE
COMMITTEES ARE ABLE TO REPORT
OUT IN THE COMING WEEK THAT WE
CAN PUT ON THE FLOOR THE LAST
WEEK.
MR. CANTOR: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. MR. SPEAKER, I ASK THE
GENTLEMAN TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE
PROSPECTS OF THE D.C. BILL AND
ASK WHETHER HE COULD ASSURE THE
MEMBERS ON FRANKLY BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT WHETHER THERE WILL BE THE
NECESSARY PROTECTIONS FOR THE
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN THAT
MEASURE AND I YIELD.
MR. HOYER: I THINK ALL OF US
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SECOND
AMENDMENT.
I HOPE ALL OF US ARE ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT 600,000
CITIZENS IN THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA WHO HAVE A
REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS HOUSE
WHO CAN'T VOTE.
UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MANY PEOPLE
IN MY VIEW VOTED AGAINST THAT
BILL.
SO WHAT WE HAVE NOW DONE IS
UNDERMINE THE HOME RULE RIGHTS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AS
WELL AS PREVENTING THEM FROM
VOTING ON THIS FLOOR.
I THINK THAT'S VERY
UNFORTUNATE.
AS THE GENTLEMAN IS WELL AWARE,
THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES ON THE AMENDMENT
THAT WAS OFFERED IN THE SENATE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING
HOW WE CAN TRY TO GET THIS BILL
THROUGH.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS NEITHER
POSITION MIGHT ENJOY A MAJORITY
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS.
EITHER IN THE SENATE OR PERHAPS
HERE.
SO I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE CAN GIVE 600,000 OF OUR
CITIZENS, AN AWFUL LOT OF US
GET UP ON THIS FLOOR AND WE
TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
IN THE 1980'S BEHIND THE IRON
CURTAIN TO GET PEOPLE FREE.
WE TALK ABOUT IN CUBA HOW IT'S
IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE FREE.
WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S
IMPORTANT IN SOME MIDDLE EAST
STATES TO GIVE PEOPLE
BUT HERE IN THE NATION'S
CAPITAL, THE CENTER OF FREEDOM
AND DEMOCRACY WE DO NOT HAVE A
REPRESENTATIVE UNLIKE ANY OTHER
CAPITAL OF ANY OTHER DEMOCRATIC
NATION IN THE WORLD THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT VOTE IN
THIS PARLIAMENT. I THINK THAT'S A TRAGEDY.
I THINK IT'S A DIMINISHMENT OF
OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND I WILL TELL THE GENTLEMAN
THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS
HOUSE WOULD RISE UP AS ONE
VOICE SAYING THIS IS NOT RIGHT
AND WE WILL PASS THE D.C.
VOTING RIGHTS.
WE CAN DEAL WITH OTHER ISSUES
THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT BUT IT
CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THAT WE
OUGHT TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE
DIRECTLY.
AS YOU KNOW WHEN MR. DAVIS
INTRODUCED THAT BILL A MAJORITY
OF YOUR PARTY, AN OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF THAT PARTY, MR.
DAVIS BEING YOUR PARTY, DID NOT
SUPPORT THAT BILL.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE
AMENDMENT THAT WAS ADDED TO THE
SENATE COMPLICATES ITS
CONSIDERATION HERE WHICH IS WHY
IT HASN'T COME TO THE FLOOR A
LONG TIME AGO.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT
OUT.
MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
MY QUESTION WAS NOT TO GET IN
THE SUBSTANCE OF THE D.C. BILL
BUT THOSE OF US O ARE ARDENT
SUPPORTERS OF THE SECOND
AMENDMENT RIGHTS WOULD SEE THAT
ACTUALLY THE CITIZENS OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COULD
ENJOY THOSE RIGHTS AS WELL.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD ASK
THE GENTLEMAN ABOUT THE
OMISSION OF THE CAP AND TRADE
BILL IN HIS DISCUSSION FOR THE
SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
WEEKS.
AND THE REPORTS HAVE INDICATED
THAT CHAIRMAN WAXMAN HAS NOW
COMMITTED TO BRINGING THAT BILL
THAT HAS BEEN DEBATED AT LEAST
IN SUBCOMMITTEE FORWARD OR AT
LEAST BEYOND THAT SUBCOMMITTEE
TO THE FULL COMMITTEE INSTEAD
OF THE DISCUSSION IN THE
SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND IT HAS GIVEN SOME OF OUR
MEMBERS SOME CAUSE FOR ALARM
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A
SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE
POLICY.
SOME OF US ARE VERY OPPOSED TO
WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO AND
HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT
THIS BILL WOULD DO IN MIND.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK, MR.
OF THE AISLE WHO ARE ON THAT
HAVE A SAY IN THE CRAFTING OF
ANY LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY IN
THE AREA OF ENERGY, SOMEBODY
LIKE JOHN SHIMKUS WHO HAS A
DISTRICT THAT IS VERY RICH WITH
COAL, VERY, VERY CONCERNING TO
HIM IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY AND
JOBS. PEOPLE LIKE ON YOUR SIDE OF THE
AISLE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
LOUISIANA, CHARLIE MELANCON ON
THAT COMMITTEE VERY INTERESTED
IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY.
BARON HILL FROM INDIANA WHO HAS
BIG CONCERNS ON THE COAL ISSUE.
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA IS ABUNDANT
WITH COAL AND NATURAL
SOURCES.
IT WOULD IMPACT THAT REGION
JUST IT WOULD DEVASTATE THAT
REGION IF SUCH A BILL WERE TO
GO FORWARD.
ALL OF THESE MEMBERS, MR.
SPEAKER, DO HAVE A DESIRE, I'M
SURE, TO BE PART OF THE DEBATE.
AND I WOULD ASK IS IT THE
LEADER'S INTENTION THAT THIS IS
A GOOD MOVE?
HE IS THE LEADER AND HIS
CHAIRMAN AND ONE OF THEM HAS
DECIDED TO MOVE THE BILL BEYOND
THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HE
SUPPORTS?
AND THEN, IS IT THE INTENTION,
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD ASK OF THE
LEADER, TO BRING THE BILL
DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR ONCE, I ASSUME, IT PASSES THE FULL
COMMITTEE?
AND I YIELD. MR. HOYER: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY TO
THE GENTLEMAN, THE REASON IT'S
NOT ON THE CALENDAR FOR THE
NEXT TWO WEEKS, IT WAS NEVER
INTENDED TO BE ON THE CALENDAR
OVER THE NEXT TWOEEKS.
THE INTENTION AS I'VE
ARTICULATED ALL ALONG AND THE
CHAIRMAN'S INTENTION WAS TO
HAVE A TARGET OF MARKING UP THE
BILL IN COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE
MEMORIAL DAYBREAK.
SO THERE WAS NEVER ANY
INTEION THAT A BL WOULD BE
ON THE FLOOR PRIOR TO THE
MEMORIAL DAYBREAK.
SECONDLY, I WOULD TELL THE
GENTLEMAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT
THE CHRMAN HAS MADE A
DECISION ON WHETHER TO MARK IT
UP IN SUBCOMMITTEE OR MARK IT UP IN FULL COMMITTEE.
I DO KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE
MARKED UP IN COMMITTEE, OPENO
AMENDMENT IN COMMITTEE, OPEN TO
DEBATE AND OPEN TO A VOTE.
WHETHER IT'S IN SUBCOMMITTEE OR
FULL COMMITTEE, THAT
DETERMINATION AS I UNDERSTAND
IT HAS NOT BEEN MADE.
BUT IT WILL BE CERTAINLY MARKED
UP IN COMMITTEE AND SUBJECT TO
FULL DEBATE.
MR. CANTOR: I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
RETURNING TO NEXT WEEK'S
AGENDA, MR. SPEAKER, FOR A
MOMENT.
HE MENTIONED THAT THE WAR
SUPPLEMENTAL WILL BE COMING TO
THE FLOOR, AND IT PROVIDES US
WITH A CHANCE -- I KNOW HE
AGREES -- TO ACCOMPLISH ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE AS MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS WHICH IS TO PROVIDE
FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF OUR
COUNTRY.
AND AS THE GENTLEMAN KNOWS,
MANY OF US, MOST OF US IF NOT
ALL REPUBLICANS STAND WITH THIS
PRESIDENT IN SUPPORT OF HIS
STRATEGY IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE
GENERAL REGION AND PAKISTAN,
IRAQ. AND WE STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT
IN HIS SUPPORT OF OUR TROOPS
THERE.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN, MR. SPEAKER, SOME
DISAGREEMENTS ON THE
GENTLEMAN'S SIDE OF THE AISLE.
AS FAR AS THE ISSUES HAVING TO
DEAL WITH TIMETABLES, THE
ISSUES OF HAVING TO DO WITH
CUTTING OFF FUNDING OF TRANSFER
OF DETAINEES FROM THE
GUANTANAMO BAY DETENTION CENTER
FACILITY.
SO I ASSUME, AND MAYBE IT'S AN
IMPROPER ASSUMPTION, MR.
SPEAKER, AND I'D ASK THE
GENTLEMAN IF HE COULD COMMENT,
IF HE BELIEVES THAT HE WILL
NEED THE HELP AND BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT TO PASS THIS BILL THAT
WE ARE INTERESTED ON THIS SIDE
IN HELPING PASS FOR OUR TROOPS,
IS IT YOUR -- IS IT HIS
INTENTION THAT WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOME OF
THESE CONCERNS ON THE FLOOR? SPECIFICALLY IF HE COULD TELL
US WHETHER AN AMENDMENT SUCH AS
THAT PROPOSED BY MR. TIAHRT
FROM KANSAS AND THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
BANNING ANY FURTHER
APPROPRIATIONS BEING ALLOWED IN
THE AREA OF TRANSFERRING
DETAINEES FROM THE GUANTANAM@
BAY FACILITY, AND I YIELD.
MR. HOYER: THE -- I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
THE MARKUP WAS JUST CONCLUDED.
I HAVE NOT REVIEWED THE TIAHRT
AMENDMENT NOR HAVE I HAD
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHAIRMAN
REGARDING THE RULE AND WHAT
AMENDMENTS WOULD BE ASKED FOR
OR WHAT AMENDMENTS WOULD BE
MADE IN ORDER.
VERY FRANKLY, I WILL TELL MY
FRIEND, IT'S NOT THE MAJORITY
NEEDS YOUR HELP IN PASSING THIS
BILL.
OUR TROOPS NEED YOUR HELP IN
PASSING THIS BILL.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU SUPPORTHE PRESIDENT
IN HIS EFFORTS IN AFGHANISTAN
AND PAKISTAN.
WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT
SITUATION, DESTABILIZING
SITUATION, DANGEROUS SITUATION,
AND THIS SUPPLEMENTAL OBVIOUSLY
IS DIRECTED AT MAKING SURE THAT
OUR TROOPS HAVE THE RESOURCES
THEY NEED TO PURE THE
OBJECTIVES THAT WE AND THE
PRESIDENT HAVE GIVEN TO THEM.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
THAT BILL PASSED WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
. CANTOR: I THANK THE
GENTMAN.
MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD JUST SAY
TO REITERATE MY POINT, MY SENSE
IS AND I'M NOT THE ONE WHO
COUNTS VOTES ON HIS SIDE OF THE AISLE, BUT AS A FORMER WHIP I
KNOW HE KNOWS THAT THERE IS
SOME DIFFICULTY AND IT IS MY
HUNCH THAT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
OF REPUBLICANS THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULDN'T SEE
THE MONEY FLOW TO THEIR TROOPS.
BUT I'D LIKE TO AT THIS TIME,
MR. SPEAKER, YIELD TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM
KIRK. MR. KIRK: THE MAJORITY LEADER
IS CORRECT.
THE COMMITTEE JUST FINISHED
CONSIDERATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND THE TIAHRT
AMENDMENT.
AND DURING MY DEBATE,
CONGRESSMAN WOLF HIGHLIGHTED
REPORTS THAT HE HAD RECEIVED
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THREE
TERRORISTS FROM THE EAST
ISLAMIC MOVEMENT WAS SET TO BE
IN MCCLAIN, VIRGINIA.
BUT TO HIS OBJECTION THAT MIGHT
HAVE HAPPENED.
SO IT GAVE AN URGENCY TO THE
TIAHRT AMENDMENT.
SINCE FORMER CHAIRMAN WOLF, NOW
RANKING MEMBER WOLF, HAD
RECEIVED THIS REPORT FROM LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HIS DISTRICT
AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THINGS
WERE MOVING MUCH QUICKER THAN OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT.
AND I YIELD BACK TO THE
GENTLEMAN.
.
MR. CANTOR: I THINK THAT
UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF A
BIPARTISAN EFFORT HERE IN THIS
BILL, AND FRANKLY IF HE WERE TO
SEE COMING FORWARD A RULE THAT
WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO HAVE THE
DISPOSITION OF THESE ISSUES ON
THE FLOOR, I DO BELIEVE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD BE BETTER
SERVED AND CERTAINLY OUR MEN AND
WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND RISE?
MR. HOYER: MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN THE
HOUSE ADJOURNS TODAY IT ADJOURN
TO MEET AT 2:00 P.M. ON MONDAY
NEXT AND FURTHER WHEN THE HOUSE
ADJOURNS ON THAT DAY, IT ADJOURN
TO MEET AT 12:30 P.M. ON
TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2009, FOR
MORNING HOUR DEBATE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
ORDERED.
-- WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO
ORDERED.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE A
MESSAGE.
THE CLERK: TO THE CONGRESS OF
HONOR TO TRANSMIT TO YOU THE
BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010.
IN MY FEBRUARY 26 BUDGET
OVERVIEW, A NEW ERA OF
RESPONSIBILITY, RENEWING
AMERICA'S PROMISE, I HAVE
PROVIDE ADD BROAD OUTLINE HOW
OUR NATION CAME TO THIS MOMENT
OF ECONOMIC FINANCIAL AND FISCAL
CRISIS AND HOW MY ADMINISTRATION
PLANS TO MOVE THIS ECONOMY FROM
RECESSIO TO RECOVERY ANDAY A
NEWFOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM
ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
THIS BUDGET FILLS OUT THIS
PICTURE BY PROVIDING FULL
PROGRAMIC DETAILS AND PROPOSING
APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE AND
OTHER REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR
THE CONGRESS TO PUT THESE PLANS
FULLY INTO EFFECT.
SPECIFICALLY THIS BUDGET DETAILS
THE PILLARS OF THE STABLE AND
BROAD ECONOMIC GROWTH WE SEEK.
MAKING LONG OVERDUE INVESTMENTS
AND REFORMS IN EDUCATIONO THA
EVERY CHILD CAN COMPLETE --
COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
UNDERTAKING HEALTH CARE REFORM
SO THAT WE CAN CONTROL COST
WHILE BOOSTING COVERAGE AND
QUALITY AND INVESTING IN
RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY SO
THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL AND
BECOME THE WORLD LEADER IN THE
NEW CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.
FISCAL DISCIPLINE IS ANOTHER
CRITICAL PILLAR IN THIS ECONOMIC FOUNDATION.
MY ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO
OFFICE FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT
OF $1.3 TRILLION FOR THIS YEAR
ALONE, AND THE COST OF
CONFRONTING THE RECESSION AND
FINANCIAL CRISIS HAS BEEN HIGH.
WHILE THERE ARE -- WHILE THESE
ARE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES THAT
HAVE DEMANDED EXTRAORDINARY
RESPONSES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
PUT OUR NATION ON A COURSE FOR
LONG-TERM GROWTH WITHOUT
BEGINNING TO REIN IN
UNSUSTAINABLE DEFICITS AND DEBT.
WE NO LONGER CAN AFFORD TO
TOLERATE IESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS
THAT ARE OUTDATED, DUPLICATIVE,
INEFFECTIVE, OR WASTEFUL.
THAT IS WHY THE BUDGET I AM
SENDING TO YOU INCLUDES A
SEPARATE VOLUME OF TERMINATIONS,
REDUCTIONS, AND SAVINGS THAT MY
ADMINISTRATION HAS IDENTIFIED
SINCE WE SENT THE BUDGET
OVERVIEW TO YOU 10 WEEKS AGO.
IN IT WE IDENTIFY PROGRAMS THAT
DO NOT ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS
SEER FOR THEM, DO NOT DO SO
EFFICIENTLY, OR DO A JOB ALREADY
DONE BY ANOTHER INITIATIVE.
OVERALL, WE HAVE TARGETED MORE
THAN 100 PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD BE
ENDED OR SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED,
MOVES THAT WILL SAVE NEARLY $17
BILLION NEXT YEAR ALONE.
THESE EFFORTS ARE JUST THE NEXT
PHASE OF A LARGER AND LONGER
EFFORT NEEDED TO CHANGE HOW
WASHINGTON DOES BUSINESS AND PUT
OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
TO THAT END THE BUDGET INCLUDES
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS
FROM STEPS RANGING FROM ENDING
SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES TO ELIMINATING
ENTITLEMENTS TO BANKS AND
LENDERS MAKING STUDENT LOANS.
IT PROVIDES AN HISTORIC DOWN
PAYMENT ON HEALTH CARE REFORM,
THE KEY TO OUR LONG-TERM FISCAL
FUTURE, AND WAS CONSTRUCTED
WITHOUT COMMONLY USED BUDGET
GIMMICKS THAT, FOR INSTANCE,
HIDE THE TRUE COST OF WAR AND NAR DISASTERS.
EVEN WITH THESE COSTS ON THE
BOOKS, THE BUDGET WILL CUT THE
DEFICIT IN HALF BY THE END OF MY
FIRST TERM AND WE WILL BRING
NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING TO ITS LOWESTEVEL AS
A SHARE OF G.D.P. SINCE 1962.
FINALLY, IN ORDER TO KEEP
AMERICA STRONG AND SECURE, THE
BUDGET INCLUDES CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS IN REBUILDING OUR
MILITARY, SURING OUR HOMELAND,
AND EXPANDING OUR DIPLOMATIC
EFFORTS BECAUSE WE NEED TO USE
ALL ELEMENTS OF OUR POWER TO
PROVIDE FOR OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
WE ARE NOT ONLY PROPOSING
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT ALSO
BEING CAREFUL WITH THOSE
INVESTMENTS BY, FOR INSTANCE,
REFORMING DEFENSE CONTRACTING SO
THAT WE ARE USING OUR DEFENSE
DOLLARS TO THEIR MAXIMUM EFFECT.
I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THERE
WILL BE VARIOUS INTERESTS, VOCAL
AND POWERFUL, WHO WILL OPPOSE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS
BUDGET.
CHANGE IS NEVER EASY.
HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT AFTER AN
A OF PROFOUND
IRRESPONSIBILITY, AMERICANS ARE
READY TO EMBRACE THE SHARED
RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE TO EACH
OTR AND TO GENERATIONS TO
COME.
EY WANT TO PUT OLD ARGUMENTS
AND THE DIVISIONS OF THE PAST
BEHIND US, BUT PROBLEM SOLVING
-- PUT PROBLEM SOLVING AHEAD OF
POINT SCORING AND RECONSTRUCT AN
ECONOMY THAT IS BUILT ON A SOLID NEWFOUNDATION.
IF WE DO THAT, AMERICA ONCE
AGAIN WILL TEAM WITH NEW
INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, HUM WITH
THE ENERGY OF NEW DISCOVERIES
AND INVENTION, AND BE A PLACE
WHERE ANYONE WITH A GOOD IDEA
AND THE WILL TO WORK CAN LIVE
THEIR DREAMS.
I AM GRATIFIED AND ENCOURAGED BY
THE SUPPORT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM
THE CONGRESS THUS FAR, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AS WE PUT
THESE PLANS INTO PRACTICE AND
MAKE THIS VISION OF AMERICA A
REALITY.
SIGNED, BARACK OBAMA
HOUSE, MAY 7, 2009.
E SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE MESSAGE IS REFERRED TO THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS AND
ORDERED PRINTED.
ARE THERE REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK RISE?
>> I ASK
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION. >> AND TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: SO
MR. TONKO: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED ON
THIS HOUSE FLOOR, TRAGICALLY ON
MARCH 5, 2009, ONE OF MY
CONSTITUENT ZENS FROM MY
DISTRICT JASON, PULLED HIS TRUCK
INTO AN ABANDONED GAS STATION
FREQUENTLY USED BY TRUCKERS IN
SOUTH CAROLINA AS A REST STOP
AND WAS THEN AND THERE VIOLENTLY
AND SENSELESSLY SHOT AND MURDERED.
ROBBED OF A MEAGER $7.
AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH JASON
WAS A MERE 12 MILES FROM THE
DESTINATION THAT HE WAS TO
ARRIVE AT.
BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE HIS
DELIVERY BECAUSE HE WAS TOO
EARLY.
JASON WAS 35 YEARS OLD.
LEAVING HIS WIFE, HOPE, AND SON, JOSH, BEHIND.
THEY HAD JT MOVED INTO A NEW
HOME.
AS IF THAT STRESS WAS NOT
ENOUGH, SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH,
JASON'S WIDOW DELIVERED TWO
HEALTHY TWINS, A BOY NAMED
HEZZKYA AFTER HIS GRANDFATHER,
AND A GIRL NAMED LOGAN.
HIS DEATH SPARKED OUTRAGE AND AN
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR THE
FAMILY ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
TRUCKERS AND FAMILMEMBERS ARE
DEMANDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT DO
MORE TO PROTECT TRUCKERS WHO
RISK THEIR LIVES FOLLOWING RULES
THAT REQUIRE THEY PULL OVER AND
REST AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
DRIVING TIME.
THERE ARE FEW RESOURCES TELLING
TRUCK DRIVERS WHO ARE OFTEN
UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL AREA
WHERE A SAFE PLACE TO REST MIGHT
BE.
MOREOVER, THERE ARE FEW SAFE
PLACES TO REST IN THE FIRST PLACE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE MUST DO MORE TO
SUPPORT THESE INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT MEN AND WOMEN.
THAT IS WHY TRADE GROUPS SUCH AS
THE AMERICAN TRUCKERS
ASSOCIATION, THE OWNER OPERATOR
INDEPENDENT DRIVERS ASSOCIATION,
THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY
ALLIANCE, AND THE AMERICAN
MOVING AND STORAGE ASSOCIATION
AND SO MANY MORE SUPPORT H.R.
2156, JASON'S LAW.
MOVING FREIGHT AND GOODS IS
ESSENTIAL TO KEEPING THIS
COUNTRY AND OUR --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. TONKO: WE MUST ENSURE WE
MOVE ON 2156, JASON'S LAW, BY
HONORING A GREAT MAN.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DO WE
HAVE FURTHER REQUESTS FOR
ONE-MINUTE SPEECHES?
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA RISE?
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
TODAY FOLLOWING LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS AND ANY SPECI ORDERS
HERETOFORE ENTER
FOLLOWING MEMBERS MAY BE
PERMITTED TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE,
AND INCLUDE THEREIN EXTRANEOUS
MATERIAL.
MR. POE ON MAY 14 FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. JONES ON MAY 14 FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. NEUGEBAUER TODAY FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MR. ADERHOLT TODAY FORIVE MINUTES.
MR. BURTON ON MAY 12, 13, 14 FOR
FIVE MINUTES EACH.
MYSELF, TODAY FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND MR. MORAN ON MAY 12, 13, AND
14 FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
MS. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
TODAY FOLLOWING LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS AND ANY SPECIAL ORDERS
HERETOFORE ENTERED INTO, THE
FOLLOWING MEMBERS MAY BE
PERMITTED TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE
FOR FIVE MINUTES, REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS, AND
INCLUDE THEREIN EXTRANEOUS
MATERIAL.
MS. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. MS. WOOLSEY.
MR. BAIRD.
MR. DEFAZIO.
MS. MOORE.
MISSP KAPTUR.
MISS PING GREE.
MR. SCHIFF.
AND MS. JACKSON LEE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
NTLEWOMAN FROM ARIZONA RISE?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MRS. KIRKPATRICK: I'M HONORED
TODAY TO BE HERE TO
MAY AS NATIONAL JEWISH AMERICAN
--
MS. GIFFORDS: IN 165412323
JEWISH REFUGEES TRAVELED FROM
BRAZIL TO PRESENT DAY NEW YORK
AND FOUNDED THE FIRST JEWISH
COMMUNAL SELLLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA.
IT WASN'T UNTIL 100 YEARS
EARLIER THAT SPANISH INWHICH
SIGNIFICANCE DESCENDED UPON THE
INHABITANTS OF NEW SPAIN WHERE
JEWS DECIDED TO FLEE ARIZONA AND
NEW MEXICO INTO TEXAS.
THAT MEANT THE BEGINNING OF JEWS
IN THE SOUTHWEST.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN
ARIZONA TODAY IS STRONG AND
VIBRANT AND WE HAVE TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF HISTORY.
DURING ARIZONA'S TERRITORIAL
YEARS, HENRY, A JEWISH
IMMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE,
IMMIGRATED FROM SOUTHERN ARIZONA
SPEARHEADED THE COPER MINING
BUSINESS AND BIZ BYE TODAY IS A
LEGACY OF HIS.
ANOTHER PIONEER, A JEWISH
BANKER, FOUNDED VALLEY NATIONAL BANK.
THIS WEEK WE ARE ALSO
RECOGNIZING THE 61ST ANNIVERSARY
OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
AND MY TRIPS TO ISRAEL I HAVE
HAD A CHANCE TO WITNESS THE
RESILIENCY AND RESOLVE OF ITS
CITIZENS.
SO I'M PROUD, MR. SPEAKER
TORQUES JOIN WH JEWS OF THE
SOUTHWEST TO CELEBRATE OUR
HERITAGE AROUND THE WORLD AS
WELL TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S 61ST
ANNIVERSARY.
THANK
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED.
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE. THSPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
>>
TODAY I RISE IN RECOGNITION OF
NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S
NATIONAL TEACHER DAY.
FEW PROFESSIONALS TOUCH AS MANY
LIVES AS TEACHERS DO.
THEY PROVIDE US WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WE NEED TO
SUCCEED IN LIFE AND THEIR
DEDICATION DESERVES NATIONAL
RECOGNITION.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION AGAIN THIS YEAR
CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
NATIONAL TEACHER DAY.
THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN IS
CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE SUCCESS
OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND DESPITE LIMITED COMPENSATION
AND INCREASINGLY HIGH
EXPECTATIONS, OUR TEACHERS RISE
TO THE CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY
DAY.
TEACH REMEMBERS A CRITICAL
COMPONENT TO INCREASING OUR
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND ONCE
AGAIN ESTABLISHING OUR COUNTRY
AS A WORLD LEADER IN SCIENCE,
MATH, AND OTHER FIELDS.
MY MOTHER WAS A PUBLIC SCHL
TEACHER AND I KNOW HOW -- THE
HARD WORK SHE PUT IN TO ENSURE
EVERY ONE OF HER STUDENTS WAS
PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN THE
CLASSROOM AND IN LIFE.
TO ALL THE TEACHERS OF SOUTH
FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
THANK YOU.
MR. SP
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE THE
FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS.
THE CLERK: LEAVES OF ABSENCE
REQUESTED FOR MRS. CAPPS OF
CALIFORNIA FOR TODAY.
MR. HOLT OF NEW JERSEY FOR TODAY.
AND MR. HELLER OF NEVADA FOR
DAY.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
GRANTED.
.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 6, 2009 AND
UNDER A PREVIOUS ORDER OF THE
HOUSE, THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES
EACH.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
SHE'S RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE
MINUTES.
MS. WASS
YOU, MR. S
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO
COMMEMORATE THE 4TH ANNUAL
JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH WHICH
TAKES PLACE IN COMMUNITIES EACH
MAY.
IT PROMOTES AWARENESS OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AMERICAN JEWS
HAVE MADE TO THE FABRIC OF
AMERICAN LIFE FROM TECHNOLOGY IN
LITERATURE, POLITICS AND
MEDICINE. AS WE ARE AWARE, THE FOUNDATION
OF OUR COUNTRY IS BUILT UPON THE
STRENGTH OF OUR UNIQUE CULTURES
AND BACKGROUND.
WHILE OUR DIVERSITY IS AMERICA'S
STRENGTH, IGNORANCE ABOUT THE
CULTURE, TRADITIONS AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE JEWISH
PEOPLE ARE STILL PREVALENT.
JEWS MAKE UP 2% OF OUR NATION'S
POPULATION AND THEREFORE MOST
AMERICANS HAVE HAD FEW
INTERACTIONS WITH JEWS AND OUR
TRADITIONS.
I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS
WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN THE DORMS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA.
WHILE AT SCHOOL, A FELLOW
STUDENT NOTICED MY NAME AND
SAID, WOW, YOU'RE JEWISH.
I'VE SEEN PICTURES BUT NEVER MET
A REAL ONE.
THE LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF THE
JEWISH PEOPLE AND OUR ROLE LEADS
TO IGNORANCE, WHICH CONIBUTES
TO STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICE.
ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION MOST RECENT
HATE SCRIMES STATISTIC REPORT,
64% CRIMES STEM FROM ANTI-JEWISH
PREJUDICE.
DUE TO A LACK OF UERSTANDING,
SOME AMERICANS PERCEIVE JEWS AS
ONLY A RELIGION WHEN IN REALITY
IT'S A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK
4,000 YEARS.
THIS IS WHY COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY HAVE COME TOGETHER
TO CELEBRATE JEWISH AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONDAY.
THEY APPROACHED ME TO HONOR THE
CONTRIBUTION OF AMERICAN JEWS
WITH A DESIGNATED MONTH EACH
EAR.
AS THE CONCEPT GAINED MOMENTUM,
250 COLLEAGUES HAVE JOINED ME
URGING THE PRESIDENT TO ISSUE A
PROCLAMATION FOR THIS MONTH.
SENATOR SPECTER LED THE EFFORT
AND TOGETHER THE HOUSE AND
SENATE PASSED RESOLUTIONS
SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
IN MAY, 2006, WE CELEBRATED THIS
FOR THE FIRST TIME AND BEEN
CELEBRATING EACH MAY SINCE THEN.
THE MONTH OF MAY INTRODUCES
JEWISH CULTURE TO THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH, JEWISH AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH RECOGNIZES
CONTRIBUTIONS AMERICAN JEWS HAVE
MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OVER
THE LAST 253 YEARS.
IT IS MY HOPE BY PROVIDING THE
FRAMEWORK OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO
OUR NATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
REDUCE IGNORANCE THAT LEADS TO
ANTI-SEMITISM.
ONE WAY IT COUNTERS THESE
PREJUDICE IS PROVIDI EDUCATORS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE
AMERICAN JEWS IN DISCUSSIONS OF
HISTORY AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHTING
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT MIGHT SURPRISE
MANY TO LEARN IT WAS AN AMERICAN
JEW, IRVING BERLIN WROTE THE
LYRICS TO THE SONG "GOD BLESS
AMERICA."
AS THE FOUNDATIONS WERE IMPACTED
BY JEWS, A JEWISH MAN WAS ONE OF
THE LARGEST FINANCIERS AND RAB
EYE PRINZ WAS ON THE PODIUM
BEFORE DR. KING DELIVERED HIS "I
HAVE A DREAM SPEECH."
THIS MONTH HAS BEEN PACKED WITH
PROGRAMS CELEBRATING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICAN JEWRY
TO OUR COUNTRY WITH SPEAKERS AND
KNOW VAY.
THE UNITED JEWISH COMMUNITIES
AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF
GAITER WASHINGTON WILL BE
HOSTING A RECEPTION TO MEMBERS
OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
K STREET WILL BE HOSTING A
RECEPTION TO CELEBRATE MAY WITH
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEIR STAFF
AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND THE
NATIONAL ARCHIVES WILL BE
HOSTING LECTURES, EXHIBITS AND
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT JEWISH
CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICA.
IN MY HOME STATE OF FLORIDA,
THERE WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF
JEWISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE
MAJOR LEAGUE FLORIDA MARLINS
BASEBALL TEAM WILL OFFER A GAME
WITH JEWISH MUSIC IN BETWEEN
INNINGS.
CINCINNATI WILL BE HOSTING
LECTURES INCLUDING LINCOLN'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH JEWS.
AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUC
FOOD.
EVENTS ARE SCHEDULED TO OCCUR IN
NEW YORK, CALIFORNIA, TEXAS AND
OTHER STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MR. SPEAKER, WE HAVE COME A LONG
WAY IN RECENT YEARS TO PROMOTE
APPRECIATION FOR THE FABRIC OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
CONTINUE THIS EDUCATION.
IF WE AS A NATION ARE TO PREPARE
OUR CHILDREN FOR THE CHALLENGES
THAT LIE AHEAD, THEN TEACHING
DIVERSITY IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART
OF THAT PROMISE.
TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP A-THIS
GOAL OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
CELEBRATION OF JEWISH AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH.
I CALL ON ALL AMERICANS TO
OBSERVE THIS SPECIAL MONTH BY
CELEBRATIN
CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEWISH CULTURE
THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY. THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
CONGRESSMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. NEUGEBAUER
PROUD TO RISE TODAY TO
CONGRATULATE SOME CHAMPIONS IN
THE 19TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
I CONGRALATE THE GIRL'S
BASKETBALL TEAM IN SUDAN HIGH
SCHOOL FOR WINNING THE CLASS A
CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2009.
THE NETS FINISHED THE SEASON
WITH 35 WINS AND ONLY FIVE
LOSSES.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD INCLUDES
SENIORS AND SOPHOMORES.
AND A -- TWO FRESHMAN LED BY
THEIR COACHINGS.
FOLLOWING THE LAST YEAR STATE
FINALS, THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR
HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION
DURING THE OFFSEASON.
THEY FOCUSED AND IT PAID OFF IN
A 71-30 VICTORY, THE THIRD
LARGEST MARGIN IN CLASS 1 A
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY.
IT EARNED HIS FOURTH STATE TITLE
AND ITS FIRST.
I APPLAUD ITS HARD WORK AND
TRADITION OF SUCCESS WITH GREAT
SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE
TEAM PROVED ITSELF AS THE BEST
BASKETBALL TEAM IN CLASS 1 A.
THEY EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT AND
SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE COURT.
I CONGAT LATE HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL TEAM FOR DEFEATING
KIRBYVILLE.
ESTABLISHING A TRADITION OF SUCCESS, THE MULES HAVE MADE
THEIR STATE PLAYOFFS NINE OUT OF
THE LAST 10 YEARS UNDER THE HEAD
COACH DAVID WOODS.
IN 2008, THE MULES DEMONSTRATED
THEIR TALENT AND DETERMINATION
BY ENDING THE FOOTBALL SEASON
WITH A PERFECT 15-0 RECORD.
THIS IS THE FIRST STATE FOOTBALL
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
THERE WAS 230 YARDS IN THIS
YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
IN ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP, LANE WOOD RAN FOR
160 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS.
THEY SCORED 4 CONSECUTIVE
TOUCHDOWNS TO ACHIEVE A FINAL
SCORE OF 48-26.
I APPLAUD THE MULES HARD WORK
AND RESILIENCE THROUGH THE 2008
AND 2009 SEASON.
THE TEAM PROVED ITSELF AS THE
BEST 2A FOOTBALL TEAM.
THE MULES CONTINUE TO EXEMPLIFY
THE SPIRIT AND SUCCESS ON AND
OFF THE FIELD.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MS.
WOOLSEY OF CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
>> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR FIVE
MINUTES, REVISE AND EXTEND.
MR. BAIRD: MR. SPEAKER, I RISE
TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO BILLY
SMITH, A YOUNG MAN WHO LOST HIS
LIFE ON TUESDAY, MAY 5, THIS
PAST TUESDAY, IN THE COURSE OF
HIS DUTIES AT THE ACARE YOUSE
UNDERSEA RESEARCH STATION.
HE WOULD BE MISSED BY HIS
FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES.
BILLY'S LIFE WAS TIED TO THE SEA
THE GULF COAST IN PANAMA, CITY,
FLORIDA.
HE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY HOSPITAL.
FOR YEARS HE CARED FOR THE
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HIS
HE FOUND HIMSELF AT HOME BACK IN
THE WATER TRAINING AT FLORIDA
STATE UNIVERSITY'S UNDERWATER
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
PROGRAM FOCUSING ON SCIENTIFIC
AND SURFACE SUPPLY DIVING.
EVENTUALLY, HIS PATH LED HIM TO
NOAAA RESEARCH CENTER.
IT COMBINED THE ELEMENTS FOR HIS
PASSION.
LOCATED OFF THE COAST OF KEY
LARGO, FLORIDA, THE UNDERWATER
LABORATORY IS DEDICATED TO SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TRAINING
MISSIONS.
IT IS THE ONLY PERMANENT
UNDERWATER LABORATORY IN THE
WORLD AND ITS FACILITIES ARE
USED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA
AND THE NAVY AND COUNTLESS
SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD TO
TRAIN ASTRONAUTS, DIVERS AND
DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY.
AQUARIUS AND ITS TEAM HAVE
CONDUCTED MORE THAN 90 MISSIONS
WITH NO SIGNIFICANT PRIOR
ACCIDENTS.
THE CONTRIBUTION TO OCEAN
SCIENCE BY SMITH AND HIS FELLOWS
IS IMMEASURABLE.
IT SUPPORTS A LONG-TERM CORAL
REEF MONITORING PLATFORM AND
OCEAN OBSERVATION PLATFORM AND
SURFACE-BASED RESEARCH.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE TEAM AT
AQUARIUS HAS MONITORED A PROGRAM
TO TRACK THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REACHED
OUT TO THE WORLD BEYOND THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, EDUCATING
SCHOOL CHILDREN, ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTIVISTS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ON THE CHANGES
OC
EMPLOYING STATE OF THE ART
TECHNOLOGY, THEY CORRESPOND WITH
STUDENTS AND SCIENTISTS.
HIS RESPONSE TO SCHOOL
CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS REVEAL NOT
ONLY HIS EXPERTISE, BUT SINCERE
DESIRE TO SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE
GAINED AT AQUARIUS IN THE HOPES
OF SAVING THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM.
THE WORK DONE IMPROVES TH LIVES
OF M
ASTRONAUTS WHOSE HEALTH AND
SAFETY IS ENSURED TO FISHERMEN
WHOSE LIVELIHOODS DEPEND ON THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE
WORLD'S MARINECOSYSTEMS.
THIS MONDAY, OUR NATION WILL
GAZE AND WONDER AT THE
ASTRONAUTS WHO WILL LIFT OFF IN
THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
AS IMPORTANT AS THE WORKHOSE
ASTRONAUTS DO, I BELIEVE THE
WORK DONE AT AQUARIUS IS NO LESS
COURAGEOUS AND NO LESS ESSENTIAL
OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE
WORLD.
SMITH, ALONG WITH THE OTHERS
RISKED AND COMMITTED HIS LIF
DAILY FOR THE CAUSE OF RESEARCH,
EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION,
WHICH BENEFITS US ALL.
IN A FEW SHORT MINUTES, ON
TUESDAY AFTERNOON, A DEDICATED
MAN SUDDENLY LOSS IN THE COURSE
OF AN OTHERWISE STANDARD
MISSION.
LET US NOT RISK LOSING THE WORK
THAT HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I NOT ONLY MOURN THE DEATH OF A
FRIEND, SON, FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE BUT URGE THIS MISSION
CONTINUE.
LOOKING FORWARD, I HOPE HIS LIFE
WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE
IMPORTANT WORK OF PRESERVING THE
WORLD'S OCEANS.
I OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS
FAMILY, TO THE ENTIRE AQUARIUS
TEAM AND ASK THIS HOUSE HONOR
THIS MAN AS A MAN DIED SERVING
HIS COUNTRY IN PURSUIT OF
SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.
I ASK TH
MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: SO
ORDERED.
MR. BAIRD: I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: I
RECOGNIZE MR. POE OF TEXAS. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA RISE?
>> I ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO CLAIM MY TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
>> MR. SPEAKER, TODAY, I RISE TO
CONGRATULATE, PAY TRIBUTE AND
HONOR A GREAT AMERICAN ON THE
OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.
JOHN A. GARRETT TURNS 100 YEARS
OLD THIS SUNDAY.
THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA HAS
DECLARED THIS SUNDAY JOHN A.
GARRETT DAY IN THE STATE AND THE
BAY OF MONTGOMERY HAS DONE THE
SAME IN OUR STATE'S CAPITAL
CITY.
I WANT TO JOIN IN SHARING MY
BEST WISHES WITH THOSE LOVED
ONES AND FRIENDS WHO WILL BE
SHARING IN THIS SELL BAITING THE
MILESTONE ON SUNDAY IN SNOWDEN,
ALABAMA.
JOHN GARRETT WAS THE 4TH FROM
THE OLDEST OF 10 CHILDREN.
HE IS THE LAST SURVING SIBLING
IN HIS FAMILY.
JOHN A. AS HE IS CALLED BY HIS
FRIENDS, ATTENDED AUBURN
UNIVERSITY, WHICH WAS CALLED THE
ALABAMA POLLY TECH NICK
INSTITUTE AND GRADUATED WITH A
DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING IN
1936.
HE MET THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, MS.
KATHERINE STOWERS.
THEY HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS, MARY
JOHN AND KITTY WALTER.
JOHN A. IS ONE OF THOSE TYPE OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT WHEN YOU MEET
HIM, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LIKE
HIM.
HE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
JOHN A. WAS QUITE A MULTITASKER
DURING HIS CAREER, WHICH SPANNED
MANY DECADES, WHETHER IT WAS
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AS
HE SERVED IN THE CORE OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS OR AS A STATE DIRECTOR
OF THE FORMER'S HOME
ADMINISTRATION WHERE HE SERVED
UNDER PRESIDENT NIXON AND
PRESIDENT FORWARD'S
ADMINISTRATION.
JOHN A. WAS A GENTLEMAN FARMER
AND SERVED AT THE ALABAMA FARM
BUREAU AND ALSO DID WORK IN
CONSTRUCTION AND AT THE AGE OF
76 HE FOUND THE ALABAMA RURAL
WATER ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HE
SERVED FOR 17 YEARS.
BUT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT JOHN
A. IS KNOWN FOR, PROBABLY HIS
GREAT STORY TELLING RANKS AMONG
THE TOP.
MR. SPEAKER, ON THIS MOMENTOUS
OCCASION ON REACHING A CENTURY
MARK, WHICH VERY FEW PEOPLE GET
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL BAIT, I
WISH THIS GREAT AMERICAN ALL THE
BEST, MANY MORE YEARS TO COME
AND HAPPINESS AND GOD'S BLESSING
TO HE D HIS FAMILY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
.
WE RECOGNIZE MS. MOORE.
MS. MOORE: MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD
ASK FOR -- TO BE ABLE TO REVISE
AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MS. MOORE: SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY TO MARK THE
UPCOMING CELEBRATION OF MOTHER'S DAY.
TH WEEKEND, SUNDAY, MAY 10.
MOTHER'S DAY IS A JOYOUS
OCCASION, AND ONOF THE REASONS
THAT MOTHER'S DAY IS SUCH A
CELEBRATION IS THAT WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE
THAT MOTHERS PLAY NOT ONLY IN
THE LIVES OF THEIR BIO
CHILDREN, BUT IN THE LIVES OF --
LIFE OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
IT'S BEEN ASTUTELY OBSERVED THAT
THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
RULES THE WORLD.
HOWEVER, FOR TOO MANY WOMEN IN
OUR WORLD, THE JOURNEY TO
MOTHERHOOD, PREGNAN AND
CHILDBIRTH, IS A DEATH SENTENCE.
RATHER THAN A REASON FOR
CELEBRATION.
FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO DIES,
ANOTHER 20 SURVIVE, BUT MUST
SUFFER FROM THE ILLNESSES OR
INJURIES INCURRED DURING
PREGNANCY OR CHILDBIRTH.
MATERNAL MORTALITY IS THE
HIGHEST HEALTH INEQUITY ON THE
PLANET EARTH.
WITH MORE THAN 99% OF DEATHS IN
PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
OCCURRING IN THE DEVELOPING
WORLD.
AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO LOOK
THAT FAR TO FIND THESE INEQUITIES.
RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN
HEMISPHERE, HAITI HAS THE
HIGHEST MATERNITY MORTALITY RATE
IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
WOMEN IN THE WORLD'S LEAST
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ARE 300
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN
CHILDBIRTH OR FROM PREGNANCY
RELATED COMPLICATIONS THAN WOMEN
IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD.
AND THIS IS A TRAGEDY THAT IS
COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT
THESE MATERNAL DEATHS ARE
PREVENTABLE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN A WOMAN DIES
AFTER GIVING BIRTH, THE
MORTALITY RATE FOR THE NOW
MOTHERLESS NEWBORNS CAN BE AS
HIGH AS 90% IN POOR COUNTRIES.
FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE KNOWN
INTERVENTIONS, PROVEN
INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN BE
IMPLEMENTED TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY.
HOWEVER WE NEED TO INVEST MORE
IN THE PROGRAMS TO FUND THESE INTERVENTIONS.
BY ONE ESTIMATE THE U.S. WOULD
NEED TO INCREASE ITS INVESTMENT
IN GLOBAL MATERNAL HEALTH
EFFORTS, UP TO $1.3 BILLION A
YEAR, IN ORDER TO HELP ACHIEVE
THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL
OFEDUCING GLOBALATERNITY
MORTALITY BY 3/4 IN 2015.
AND OUT OF EIGHT MILLENNIUM
DEVELOPMENT GOALS, EIGHT, THE
GOAL TO REDUCE MATERNALEATHS
IS -- HAS THE LEAST PROGRESS
BEEN MADE ON IT.
ADDITIONAL FUNDS WOULD HELP
INCREASE ACCESS TO PRENATAL
CARE, NEONATAL CARE, AND
POSTPARTUM PERIODS.
IT WOULD PROVIDE UP TO FOUR
MILLION HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO
ARE NEEDED IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
SIX OF THE SEVEN COUNTRIES WITH
THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MATERNITY
MORTALITY HAVE LESS THAN ONE
DOCTOR PER EVERY 10,000 PEOPLE.
THE SEVERE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH
CARE WORKERS AND THE POOR
QUALITY OF CARE MUST BE
ADDRESSED TO ACHIEVE REDUCTIONS
IN MATERNAL MORTALITY.
THIS WEEK PRESIDENT OBAMA
UNVEILED A NEW GLOBAL HEALTH
INITIATIVE THAT WOULD CALL FOR
INCREASED U.S. INVESTMENT IN
GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, AND I AM
THRILLED THAT ONE OF THE
IDENTIFIED GOALS FOR THIS NEW
INITIATIVE IS TO REDUCE THE
MORTALITY OF MOTHERS AND
CHILDREN UNDER FIVE TO SAVE
MILLIONS OF LIVES.
AS A MOTHER, I KNOW THAT BEING A
MOTHER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST
JOYS EVER AND BLESSINGS ENJOYED
ON THIS PLANET.
AND AGAIN I WISH ALL OF YOU, ALL
MY COLLEAGUES AND THEIR
CONSTITUENTS, A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD
SPEND A MOMENT THINKING ABOUT
ALL THE MOTHERS TO BE, A HALF
MILLION WOMEN A YEAR IN THE
WORLD, WHO NEVER, EVER, EVER
ENJOY MOTHERHOOD BECAUSE THEY
DIE IN PREGNANCY NEEDLESSLY.
AND WITH THAT,
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.
KIRK OF ILLINOIS.
MR. KIRK: I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS
THE HOUSE FOR FIVE MINUTES,
REVISE AND EXTEND.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. KIRK: MR. SPEAKER, OVER THE
LAST WEEKS I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS
OF HOURS HELPING CRAFT A
MODERATE CENTRIST BILL ON HEALTH CARE.
OUR COUNTRY SHOULD WORK ON
LOWERING THE COST OF HEALTH
INSURANCE.
WHILE A NATIONALIZED GOVERNMENT
H.M.O. COULD PROMPT TAX
INCREASES, INFLATION, AND A
DECLINE IN QUALITY, WE COULD
INSTEADNACT POLICIES THAT
LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH
INSURANCE FOR AMERICANS.
WHEN WE REFORM HEALTH CARE, WE
SHOULD FOLLOW KEY PRINCIPLES.
FIRST, REFORMS SHOULD DEFEND
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
INSURANCE COMPANIES ALREADY
INTERFERE WITH MUCH OF OUR CARE,
AND A GOVERNMENT H.M.O. WOULD DO
WORSE.
SECOND, REFORMS SHOULD REWARD
THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER
TREATMENTS AND CURES.
AMERICANS SUPPORT TREATING
DISEASES LIKE DIABETES, BUT THEY
ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT A CURE.
AND FINALLY, REFORMS SHOULD BE
SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE SO MANY
SENIOR CITIZENS DEPEND ON THEM.
THE WORST THING WE COULD DO IS
ENACT A PROGRAM THAT WE CANNOT
AFFORD.
IN CONSIDERING HEALTH CARE
REFORMS, AMERICANS LOOK TO
CANADA AND BRITAIN AS MODELS.
CANADIANS HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW.
WHILE OVER 60% OF AMERICANS ARE
ACTUALLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR
HEALTH CARE PLAN, ONLY 5% OF
CANADIANS ARE HAPPY.
OVER 90% OF AMERICANS FACING
BREAST CANCER ARE TREATED IN
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS.
WHILE ONLY 70% OF CANADIANS GET
SUCH QUICK TREATMENT.
MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS OF
CANADIANS SEEK TREATMENT IN U.S. HOSPITALS.
THE AVERAGE BRITAIN LONGER.
62 DAYS.
BRITAIN HAS FEWER ONCOLOGISTS
THAN ANY OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRY.
IT'S NO WONDER
OUT OF 17 INDUSTRIALIZED
COUNTRIES IN SURVING LUNG
CANCER.
THE MOST DRAMATIC DIFFERENCES
COME IN THE FIELD OF CANCER.
WHERE BRITAIN'S MOST RESPECTED
MET CAL JOURNAL, THE LANCET,
PUBLISHED RESULTS ON A REVIEW OF
EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN SURVIVAL
RATES.
IN SHORT "THE LANCET" REPORTED
AMERICAN MEN HAVE A 66% CHANCE
OF SURVING CANCER.
EUROPEAN MEN, 47%.
AMERICAN WOMEN, 63%.
EUROPEAN WOMEN, 56%.
IN SHORT, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO
LIVE IF YOU ARE TREATED IN
AMERICA.
NEWBORNS MOST AT RISK NEED THE
CARE OF A NEONATAL SPECIALIST.
IN THE UNITED STATES WE HAVE SIX
NEONAYTOLOGISTS PER 10,000 LIVE
BIRTHS.
IN CANADA THEY HAVE FEWER THAN
FOUR.
BRITAIN FEWER THAN THREE.
IN THIS COUNTRY WE HAVE OVER
THREE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE
BEDS PER 10,000.
2.6 IN CANADA.
LESS THAN ONE IN BRITAIN.
IT'S NO WONDER BABIES IN BRITAIN
ARE 17% MORE LIKELY TO DIE
COMPARED TO JUST 13% A DECADE
AGO.
THE STARKEST DIFFERENCE APPEARS
WHEN YOU ARE SICKEST.
IN BRITAIN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS
MAINTAIN NINE INTENSIVE CARE
BEDS PER 100,000 PEOPLE.
IN AMERICA, WE HAVE THREE TIMES
THAT NUMBER AT 31 PER 100,000.
IN SUM, BRITAIN HAS LESS THAN
TWO DOCTORS PER 1,000 PEOPLE.
RANKING IT NEXT TO MEXICO, SOUTH
KOREA, AND TURKEY.
STORIES OF POOR CARE UNDER
GOVERNMENT-ONLY SYSTEMS ARE
COMMON IN BRITAIN.
LESS FEBRUARY THE DAILY MAIL
REPORTED ON THE CASE OF MISS
DOROTHY SIMPSON, AGE 61, WHO HAD
AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT.
OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH
SERVICE DENIED HER CARE TELLING
HER THAT SHE WAS, QUOTE, TOO
OLD.
THE GUARDIAN REPORTS IN JUNE
THAT ONE IN EIGHT N.H.S.
HOSPITAL PATIENTS HAVE WAITED
MORE THAN A YEAR FOR TREATMENT.
IN CONGRESS, WE HAVE PROPOSALS
TO CREATE A NEW OPTION FOR
AMERICANS TO SIGN ON TO A
GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PLAN.
PROPONENTS CLAIM THAT THIS WILL
OFFER A CHOICE BETWEEN THEIR
GOVERNMENT PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT PROPONENTS SAY.
WHAT THEY DO NOT SAY IS UNDER
MANY OF THE MAJOR PIECES OF
LEGISLATION UNDER CONSIDERATION,
THE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PLAN
IS FUNDED BY ENDING THE TAX
BREAK EMPLOYERS RECEIVE FOR
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
THIS TAX BREAK SUPPORTS HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN FOR MOST
FAMILIES.
165 MILLION AMERICANS.
DO THEY KNOW THAT THE
LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED
WILL TRIGGER A TAX DECISION BY
THEIR EMPLOYER TO CANCEL HEALTH
INSURANCE FOR THEIR FAMILY?
LEAVING THEM ACTUALLY NO CHOICE
BUT AN UNTESTED BRAND NEW
GOVERNMENT-ONLY H.M.O.
ATTEMPTING TO CARE FOR THEIR
FAMILY.
THE NEW LEGISLATION ALSO DEPENDS
ON FUNDING FROM A CLIMATE CHANGE
BILL THAT PRESS REPORTS INDICATE
A NUMBER OF MAJORITY MEMBERS
WILL NOT SUPPORT.
WITHOUT FUNDING FROM A CLIMATE
CHANGE BILL, THERE IS LITTLE
REVENUE EXCEPT BORROWING OR
PRINTING MORE MONEY, TO SUPPORT
NEW GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE.
SENIORS AND LOW-INCOME AMERICANS
DEPEND ON THE PROMISES WE MAKE.
THE WORST THING WE CAN DO IS
MAKE COMMITMENTS THAT ARE T
EXPENSIVE AND PULL THE RUG OUT
FROM THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD
TO COPE.
WE SHOULD BACK REFORMS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT CAN AFFORD TO KEEP.
AND WE WILL BE PUTTING FORWARD
NEW LEGISLATION ON THAT IN THE
COMING DAYS.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE:
RECOGNIZE MR. JONES FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. JONES:
MR. SHIMKUS: THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE FLOOR
ONCE AGAIN TO GET THE FLOOR AND
THE COUNTRY READY FOR THE DEBATE
ON GLOL WARMING.
I JUST WANT TO PUT A COUPLE
THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT THE WHOLE GLOBAL WARMING
BILL INTENDS TO DO IS TO
MONETIZE, WHICH MEANS PUT A COST
FOR CARBON EMISSIONS.
NOW, EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHEN
YOU ADD A COST IT WILL BE PASSED ON.
SO HENCE THE DEBATE THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE
COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST COUPLE
WEEKS ABOUT RAISING ENERGY
COSTS.
IT'S MOSTLY BEEN ON THE PREMISE
THAT WHEN YOU MONETIZE CARBON
EITHER BY PUTTING ON A CARBON
TAX OR MONETIZING CARBON THROUGH
WHAT'S CALLED A CAP AND TRADE
REGIME, WHERE YOU HAVE
MARKETEERS PURCHASE CARBON
CREDIT, THAT'S ONLY ONE ASPECT
OF THE RISE OF ENERGY COST.
BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THE
PRODUCERS WILL PASS THAT ON TO THE END USERS.
WHO ARE THE END USERS? THAT'S US.
THAT'S INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS,
THAT'S MANUFACTURING, THAT'S
SERVICE INDUSTRY.
THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT.
IT WILL BE PASSED BACK ON TO US
IN HIGHER COSTS FOR US.
BUT THERE'S OTHER ADDITIONAL
COST INVOLVED IN THIS WHOLE
PROGRAM, IN THIS WHOLE PLAN.
AND THE OTHER ASPECT OF COST IS
THE ENERGY IT WILL TAKE FOR
UTILITIES TO CAPTURE CARBON
DIOXIDE.
ONE A POWER PLANT THAT'S BEING
BUILT THAT I JUST VISITED, 40%
OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT IT WAS
GOING TO SELL ON THE OPEN MARKET
WOULD NOW GO INTERNALLY TO TRY
TO CAPTURE THE CARBON.
SO IF THEY WERE GOING TO SELL
1,600 MEGAWATTS OF POWER, NOW
THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO BE ABLE
TO SELL ABOUT 950 MEGAWATTS OF POWER.
BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO
IF THEY HAVE DONE THE INVESTMENT
DOING A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
AND RETURN ON THAT, NOT ONLY ARE
THEY -- THEY HAVE LESS POWER TO
SELL ON THE MARKET, IF THE
DEMAND IS THE SAME, THE SUPPLY
IS LESS, THE COST WILL GO UP,
BUT THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO HAVE
A SECOND COST INCREASE WHICH
WILL BE BUYING THE CARBON CREDITS.
NOW, THAT'S A TWO AREAS BY WHICH
ELECTRICITY COSTS WILL INCREASE.
THERE'S ANOTHER AREA THAT
ELECTRICITY COST WILL INCREASE
BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO PUSH AN
EFFICIENCY STANDARD ON UTILITIES
WHICH IS ANOTHER ASPECT THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE
MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
SO WE HAVE THREE TIMES A BURDEN
ON UTILITIES
PASS ON TO THE CONSUMER.
NOW, THE CONCERN MANY OF US HAVE
, IF WE WANT
JOBS, AND WANT TO MAINTAIN
OUR COMPETITIVE
WORLD ECONOMIES, WE HAVE TO HAVE
LOW-COST POWER.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT'S
REALLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND IS,
WHY WOULD WE UNILATERALLY
THE COST TO
SERVICES WHEN THE MAJOR EMITTERS
OF THE WORLD TODAY WILL NOT BE
FORCED TO COMPLY?
HERE'S A CHART OF THE IMPORTANT
TRANSITIONS AND EMITTING
COUNTRIES.
IT WOULD SURPRISE A LOT OF
PEOPLE TO NOTICE THAT AT THE
BOTTOM HERE IS THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE
IN EMISSIONS.
WHERE HAS ALL THE GROWTH COME?
AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST, LATIN
AMERICA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDIA,
CHINA, KOREA,
THIS IS THE INCREASE IN THE EMISSIONS.
.
AS WE COME TO THIS DEBATE, IF WE
JUST WANTO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD,
WE'RE GOING TO SAY IF WE'RE
GOING TO ENFORCE ALL THIS PAIN
ON THE U.S. ECONOMY AT A TIME
WHEN THE ECONOMY CAN'T ACCEPT
THE PAIN BECAUSE OF THE JOB
LOSSES, SHOULDN'T WE HAVE SOME
GAIN?
THE REALITY IS, WE COULD STOP
OUR CARBON EMISSIONS TODAY AND
PUT IT TO ZERO.
AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO
WORLDWIDE CARBON EMISSIONS?
THEY WILL GO UP.
WE COULD GO TO ZERO.
THEY WOULD GO UP.
THAT IS NO WAY TO ADDRESS A
PROBLEM.
WE HAVE DECLING CARBON
EMISSIONS IN OUR ECONOMY TODAY.
AND THE REASON WHY WE HAVE IT IS
THE RECESSION WE ARE FACING.
MANUFACTURING AND JOB LOSS
CREATES LOWER EMISSIONS, WHICH
IS WHAT MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE WOULD LIKE TO SEE --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. SHIMKUS: WE'RE GO TO GO
FIGHT TO DEFEAT IT.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: MR.
BURTON OF INDIANA.
MR. DEFAZIO OF OREGON.
MR. MCHENRY OF NORTH CAROLINA.
MS. CUPT TURF OHIO.
MS. PINGREE OF MAINE.
MR. KIRK OF ILLINOIS.
MR. SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA.
MS. JACKSON LEE OF TEXAS.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 6, 2009,
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, MR.
ELLISON, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MAJORITY.
MR. ELLISON: THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AND I AM HERE TO CLAIM THE TIME
TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS.
THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS.
WE COME TO THE FLOOR EVERY WEEK
TO TALK ABOUT A PROGRESSIVE
VISION FOR AMERICA, TO DISCUSS
WHAT AMERICA IS AND COULD BE TO
EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT EVERYONE
DOES BETTER WHEN EVERYONE DOES
BETTER, TO EMBACE THE IDEA THAT
WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE WORLD WITH
COURAGE, NOT WITH FEAR, THAT WE
BELIEVE IN DIALOGUE, WE BELIEVE
IN DISCUSSION, WE BELIEVE IN
PEOPLE DOING WELL.
AND WE BELIEVE IN RADICAL
ABUNDANCE NOT FEAR OR SCARCITY.
A PROGRESSIVE VISION, YES, EVEN
A LIBERAL VISION OF AN AMERICA,
WHICH IS DOING WELL, BEC
EVERYBODY IS WORKING, WE'RE
PROMOTING BROAD-BASED ECONOMIC
POLICIES THAT ALLOW FOR HIGHER
QU
AMERICANS.
YES, THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
COMES TO THE FLOOR EVERY WEEK TO
TALK WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THESE
CRITICAL ISSUES.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE A GREAT TOPIC.
BEFORE I ANNOUNCE IT.
HAPPY AND PLEASED TO BE JOINED
TONIGHT BY A DYNAMIC ADVOCATE
FOR THE CAUSE OF HUMAN JUSTICE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE FROM
THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN.
MS. MOORE: THANK YOU, MR.
ELLISON.
I WOULD START OUT BY
ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF THE
TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THE NINE TO
FIVE ORGANIZATION FOUNDED REALLY
IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, HAS
DONE AROUND THE ISSUE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING SICK PAY
TO WORKERS.
NATIONWIDE, PEOPLE MAY NOT
REALIZE IT, BUT WORKERS
NATIONWIDE HAVE NO SICK PAY.
AND THAT IS PARTICULARLY
RELEVANT RIGHT NOW, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, WHEN
YOU CONSIDER THE BEGINNING OF
THIS GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE SWINE
FLU.
WE HAD SCHOOL CLOSINGS ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PARENTS, OF COURSE, WERE FORCED
TO TAKE OFF WORK TO TAKE CARE OF
THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE
QUARANTINE CONDITIONS THAT WERE
ORDERED BY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
AND YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DID THEY
DO IT BECAUSE THEY WERE
RESPONDING TO A POTENTIAL HEALTH
CRIS, BUT THESE FAMILIES
LIVING ON A BUDGET N
DEAL WITH THE DECREASED WAGES
THAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING.
AND, OF COURSE, WHEN CHILDREN
BECOME ILL, PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD
TO MISS WORK, SO THEY GO TO WORK
ANYWAY AND INFECT OTHER PEOPLE
AT WORK.
THEY SEND THEIR KIDS TO DAYCARE
AND INFECT OTHER CHILDREN.
AND, OF COURSE, EMPLOYERS
SUFFER, MANY OF THEM WHO ARE
SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY
FIND THERE'S A LOSS OF
PRODUCTIVITY.
ONE OF THE GREATEST LOSS
P
EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SICK.
AND THEY BECOME SICK BECAUSE
OTHER WORKERS ARE UNWILLING TO
LOSE A DAY'S PAY BECAUSE OF A
LITTLE COLD THAT TURNS OUT TO BE
EITHER THE SWINE FLU OR MAYBE
EVEN WORSE, THE REGULAR FLU,
WHICH IS QUITE DEADLY AND QUITE
CONTAGIOUS.
THIS ALL DRIVES MEDICAL COSTS.
AND GOD FORBID THAT A SPOUSE OR
A CHILD FALLS GRAVELY ILL OR IS
SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE THAT
WORKER THEN HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO
IMMEDIATELY SEEK MEDICAL HELP
AND TAKE THE LOVED ONES TO A
DOCTOR OR HOSPITAL AND MORE
ABSENCES OCCURS AND THEY END UP
LOSING THEIR JOBS PERHAPS,
BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESSES CAN'T
AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR BUSINESSES
SHUTTERED WHILE PEOPLE ARE ILL.
IN MY DISTRICT, 51% OF THE
AFRICAN MALE POPULATION IS
JOBLESS.
AND IT'S THE LARGEST RACIAL
DISPAR
POVERTY IN THE COUNTRY.
43% OF THE CITS WORKERS EARN
LESS THAN $20,000 A YEAR.
AND MANY ARE AMONG THE 122,000
WHICH MAKE UP 47% OF THE PRIVATE
WORK FORCE WHO DO NOT HAVE SICK
DAYS.
LAST YEAR IN MY DISTRICT, THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE APPROVED A
BINDING REFERENDUM ON THE 2008
BALLOT THAT CALLED FOR PRIVATE
EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY TO PROVIDE
PAID SICK LEAVE FOR ALL WORKERS.
AND THIS WAS IN DUE IN PART BY
THE DILIGENT EFFORT OF THE
UNIONS AND THE COMMUNITY GROUPS
LED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF WORKING WOMEN, NINE TO FIVE.
AND SO NOW, MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN, IS NOW THE ONLY -- IS
ONLY ONE OF THREE CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY TO REQUIRE PRIVATE
EMPLOYERS TO PVIDE PAID SICK
DAYS.
IT'S SMART ECONOMICALLY, BECAUSE
THE LACK OF PAID SICK DAYS IS
HURTING MILWAUKEE'S ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
MR. ELLISON: WOULD THE
GENTLELADY YIELD?
MS. MOORE: I WOULD DEFINITELY
YIELD.
MR. ELLISON: CONGRESSWOMAN
MOORE, IS THAT WHY IT MIGHT BE A
GOOD IDEA TO SUPPORT THE HEALTHY
FAMILIES ACT, WHICH IS H.R.
1542, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO
GUARANTEE WORKERS UP TO SEVEN
PAID SICK DAYS A YEAR?
I YIELD BACK TO THE GENTLELADY.
MS. MOORE: THANK YOU FOR
YIELDING.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION AUTHORED BY
CONGRESSWOMAN ROSA DELAURO FROM
CONNECTICUT AND I'M SO PROUD TO
BE AN ORIGINAL CO-SPONSOR.
THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.
YOU KNOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT
HAPPENS.
THE REALITY IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE
DON'T HAVE PAID SICK TIME, YOU
KNOW, THEY CHEAT, THEY LIE WHEN
THEYE REALLY SICK -- YOU KNOW,
THEY DON'T COME TO WORK ANYWAY.
AND WORSE, THEY NEGLECT BASIC
HEALTH CARE NEEDS.
THEY DON'T GET THEIR
VACCATED.
THEY DON'T CARE FOR THEIR TEETH.
THEY DON'T CATCH DISEASES AND
GET BASIC HEALTH CARE LIKE
MAMMOGRAMS.
THEY DON'T CATCH THE DISEASES
EARLY WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE
BUILT-IN SICK DAYS.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO
EMPLOYER ON THIS PLANET THAT
WOULD WITNESSINGLY, WITNESSINGLY
DENY SOMEONE BASIC HEALTH CARE
KNOWING THAT AN EARLY DETECTION
OF CANCER WOULD HAVE SAVED THEIR
DIDN'T HAVE PAID SICK DAYS.
AND I YIELD BACK TO THE
GENTLEMAN.
MR. ELLISON: I QUITE AGREE WITH
THE GENTLELADYROM WISCONSIN,
WHO POINTED OUT THAT THE HEALTHY
FAMILIES ACT, A GREAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, SOMETHING THAT IS
PROGRESSIVE, SOMETHING THAT
MAKES SENSE FOR AMERICA, MUCH
LIKE LEGISLATION OF THE PAST
THAT SUPPORTED WORKERS' RIGHTS.
AND WHAT THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WOULD DO FOR
AMERICANS IS IT WOULD RECOVER --
ALLOW AMERICANS TO RECOVER FROM
SHORT-TERM ILLNESS AND CARE FOR
A SICK FAMILY MEMBER, ALLOW
AMERICANS TO SEEK ROUTINE
MEDICAL CARE OR TO SEEK
ASSISTANCE RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
NOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK, OH
MY GOD THAT'S GOING TO COST US A
LOT OF MONEY.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF PEOPLE ARE THAT SICK OR IN
SERIOUS DIRE STRAITS, THEY ARE
TAKING THE TIME OFF ANYWAY.
YOU ARE NOT PLANNING FOR IT. IT'S NOT IN THE SCHEDULE.
AND THERE'S NO ACCOMMODATION
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT IF SOMEONE
SAYS I HAVE TO TAKE THE DAY OFF
AND I HAVE SEVEN OF THESE DAYS I
CAN TAKE, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS
YOU HAVE GREATER PRODUCTIVITY,
BECAUSE, WHAT?
WORKERS ARE TAKING THE TIME OFF
TO GET WELL, THEY ARE TAKING
THEIR KIDS TO THE VACCINATIONS.
WORKERS ARE ENGAGING IN
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE, WHICH
MEANS THEY AREN'T GOING TO TAKE
EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME OFF AND
INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY.
BY EXPENDING THE MONEY TO
PROVIDE THE SEVEN SICK DAYS THAT
ARE CALLED FOR UNDER THE HEALTHY
FAMILIES ACT, BUSINESS WOULD
SAVE MONEY.
BUSINESS WOULD BE BETTER OFF,
BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE GREATER
PRODUCTIVITY AND A HEALTHIER
WORK FORCE OVER TIME.
BUT IT'S WHAT MY MOTHER WOULD
CALL, CONGRESSWOMAN, IT WOULD BE
FOOLISH TO DENY THIS LEGISLA
BUT WHAT MY MOTHER WOULD ALSO
CALL, SAYING AN OUNCE OF
PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF
CURE IF WE WERE TO HAVE A GREAT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION LIKE THE
HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT.
AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, AS THE
FEAR OF THE MISSED AND
INACCURATELY CALLED SWINE FLU
AND SHOULD BE CALLED H1N1 VIR
RUSS, IN TIMES LIKE THIS, THIS
-- VIRUS, IT WOULD BE A GREAT
IDEA AND IT WOULD HELP MOMS OUT, WOULDN'T IT?
MS. MOORE: ABSOLUTELY.
AND THERE IS A CLASS ISSUE HERE.
YOU KNOW, 79% OF LOW-INCOME
WORKERS, NEARLY HALF OF OUR
PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS HAVE NO
PAID SICK LEAVE.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE TAKE
FOR GRANTED WHEN WE MOVE UP THE
LADDER THAT WE CAN GO TO THE
DENTIST OR HAVE GOOD PRENATAL
CARE WHEN WE EXPAND OUR
FAMILIES.
BUT A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
SURVEY IN 2008 FOUND THAT ONE IN
SIX WORKERS WERE FIRED FOR
TAKING PERSONAL TIME OFF FOR
ILLNESS FOR THEMSELVES OR A SICK
RELATIVE.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY EGREGIOUS.
IT'S PENNY WISE AND POUND
FOOLISH.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU OWN A SMALL
BUSINESS, A SMALL DRY CLEANER
AND SOMEONE HAS THE FLU AND THEY
COME TO WORK AND INFECT
EVERYONE?
THEN YOU HAVE TO SHUTTER THE
BUSINESS BECAUSE, YOU, IN FACT,
CAN'T RUN A BUSINESS LIKE THAT
YOURSELF, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING
THAT PERSON TO STAY HOME DURING
THAT INFECTIOUS PERIOD OF TIME.
SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT,
GENTLEMAN.
AND I YIELD BACK TO YO
MR. ELLISON: AGAIN, I DO THANK
THE GENTLELA FOR NAILING THIS
POINT.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
IT'S PROGRESSIVE AND IT'S PART
OF THE PROGRESSIVE VISION THAT
WE WOULD HAVE AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REALLY
HELP AMERICANS LIKE THE HEALTHY
FAMILIES ACT, AT A TIME WHEN WE
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SICKNESS AND
ILLNESS, THIS IS THE BILL THAT
WOULD BE EMBRACED BY A
PROGRESSIVE VISION, A BILL THAT
WOULD SAY, HEY, LOOK YOU GUYS,
LET'S GIVE SEVEN PAID SICK DAYS
TO WORKERS.
THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL TO WHAT
WORKERS GET IN EUROPE.
YOU WOULD HAVE MORE HEALTHY AND
PRODUCTIVE WORKERS AND AS YOU
POTED OUT, THE GENTLELADY FROM
WISCONSIN, CONGRESSWOMAN MOORE,
WE WOULD HAVE PEOPLE WHO WOULD
GO TO THE DOCTOR RATHER THAN
COME IN WHILE THEY ARE SICK.
YOU ALREADY HIT A NUMBER OF
POINTS ALREADY, BUT ACCORDING TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDY
THAT YOU REFERRED TO, ONE IN SIX
WORKERS REPORT THEY OR A FAMILY
MEMBER HAVE BEEN FIRED OR
SUSPENDED FOR TAKING TIME OFF
BECAUSE OF PERSONAL ILLNESS OR
TO TAKE CARE OF A SICK RELATIVE.
THE LACK OF PAID SICK DAYS IS A
MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
AS WE TRY TO SPREAD -- EXCUSE
ME, AS WE TRY TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF THE
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION HAS ISSUED IMPORTANT
GUIDELINES THAT ARE SOUND AND
PRUDENT.
IF YOU GET SICK, STAY HOME.
PRUDENT.
IF YOU GET SICK, STAY HOME.
IF YOU GET SICK, DON'T GO TO
WORK OR SCHOOL.
LIMIT CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT HOW CAN YOU DO THIS, I ASK
THE GENTLELADY FROM THE GREAT
STATE OF WISCONSIN, IF IT'S
GOING TO COST YOU ECONOMICALLY,
IF YOU'RE ALREADY CLOSE TO THE
EDGE OF ECONOMICALLY, IF THAT
JOB THAT YOU'RE ON SAYS THAT YOU
DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE,
YOU'RE PAID BY THE HOUR AND YOU
KNOW THAT IF YOU DON'T WORK, YOU
DON'T GET NO MONEY, YOU DON'T
GET PAID, WHAT THEN DO YOU DO IF
YOU DO NOT HAVE A BILL LIKE THE
HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTA
GET SUCH LEGISLATION.
AND I YIELD BACK TO THE
GENTLELADY.
.
MS. MOORE: IT'S HUMAN NATURE.
PEOPLE MAKE ECONOMIC DECISIONS
AND THEY PRIORITIZE,
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE ECONOMIC
DECISIONS OVER HEALTH DECISIONS.
I THINK PEOPLE FEEL LUCKY THAT
MAYBE THEY WON'T SPREAD DISEASE,
THAT MAYBE IF THEY GIVE THEIR
KID A COUPLE OF ASPIRIN THAT
THEY'LL FEEL BETTER.
THEY COULD JUST SEND THEM ON TO
SCHOOL ANYWAY BECAUSE THE
CONSEQUENCES OF TAKING OFF WORK
ARE VERY EMINENT.
THEY WON'T BE BE ABLE TO MAKE
THIS MONTH'S RENT.
REMEMBER I SAID 79% OF THOSE
FOLK WHO HAVE NO PAID SICK TIME
ARE LOW-WAGE WORKERS.
THAT THEY CAN'T RISK LOSING THAT
MONEY, THAT $80 THAT DAY, THAT
$65 THAT DAY.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO
THEY CAN'T -- THEY DON'T HAVE A
RELATIVE OR A NEIGHBOR ORRIEND
WHO CAN STAY HOME WITH THEIR
CHILDREN WHILE THEY ARE SICK SO
THEY CAN GO TO WORK.
SO THEY JUST ROLL THE DICE.
THEY ROLL THE DICE.
AND AGAIN THAT LUMP THAT JUST
DIDN'T FEEL QUITE RIGHT IN THEIR
BREAST, THEY IGNORE IT AND IT
SHOWS UP IN SO MANY OTHER DATA
AND STATISTICS.
YOU FIND POOR PEOPLE WHO SUCCUMB
TO ILLNESSES AND DIE O DISEASES
THAT CLD BE CURED.
NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEASES, BECAUSE
THEY DON'T CATCH THEM EARLY
ENOUGH.
OF COURSE THAT RAISES THE COST
OF HEALTH CARE.
WE HEAR OUR COLLEAGUES TALKING
ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH
CARE EARLIER.
WELL, OF COURSE.
HEALTH CARE COSTS MORE.
ONCE YOUR KIDNEYS FAIL AND YOU
END UP ON DIALYSIS BECAUSE YOU
DIDN'T HAVE A SIMPLE HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE PILL THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN DIAOSED EARLIER, OF
COURSE I COSTS MORE WHEN YOU
DON'T CATCH A CANCER AT ITS
EARLIER STAGES.
OF COURSE IT COSTS MORE WHEN
DISEASES ARE ALLOWED TO FESTER
TO A POINT THAT YOU WIND UP IN A
VERY EXPENSIVE AMBULANCE AND AN
EMERGENCY ROOM.
INSTEAD OF A SENSIBLE DOCTOR'S
VISIT.
WE HAVE HAD CHILDREN IN THIS
COUNTRY WHO HAVE DIED FROM WHAT
STARTED OUT TO BE AN ABSCESSED
TOOTH.
SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN
PREVENTED WITH REGULAR VISITS TO
THE DENTIST.
BUT PARENTS, WE HAVE SO MUCH
PROOF THAT WHEN YOU INCREASE
CO-PAYMENTS, WHEN THERE ARE ANY
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF SEEKING
HEALTH CARE AND NOT HAVING PAID
SICK DAYS IS AN ECONOMIC
CONSEQUENCE, WHENER THERE ARE
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES, PEOPLE
DELAY HEALTH CARE UNTIL IT
BECOMES A FIRE.
MR. ELLISON: IF THE GENTLELADY
YO
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SO VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S PART AFTER PROGRESSIVE VISION FOR AMERICA.
IT'S PART OF THE IDEA THAT, HEY,
WE ALL DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO
BETTER.
YOU'RE NOT A SUCKER OR YOU'RE
NOT A PERSON WHO IS GULLIBLE IF
YOU BELIEVE IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FELLOW
AMERICANS.
YOU'RE A PERSON WHO MAY BE A
VERY SAVVY BUSINESSPERSON
BECAUSE YOU KNOW BY SUPPORTING
THE HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT, IT MAY
COST YOU A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE
PAID SICK LEAVE DAYS FOR SOME OF
YOUR LOW AND MEDIUM INCOME
WORKERS, BUT IT WILL ALLOW YOU
TO KEEP THAT DRY CLEANERS GOING
OVER THE LONG TERM.
IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR
SMALL BUSINESS MOVING, YOUR
STORE, WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU
MAY BE DOING, YOUR LAWN CARE BUSINESS.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STAY OUT THERE
BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE
WORKERS WHO CAN TAKE THE DAY OFF
AND GO GET THAT CHECKUP, WHO CAN
TAKE THE DAY OFF AND LOOK AFTER
THAT CHILD SO THAT YOU HAVE --
WHEN THEY ARE AT WORK YOU HE
AN ALERT, HEALTHY WORK.
IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.
AS WE BEGIN THIS HEALTH CARE
DEBATE, I MEAN I NOTICED ONE OF
OUR COLLEAGUES WAS ON -- DOING A
FIVE MINUTE TALKING ABOUT HOW
HE'S AGAINST A PUBLIC PLAN.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT TO TELL
EVERYBODY, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH CARE REFORM, PART OF IT
HAS GOT TO BE GIVING LOW-INCOME
AND MEDIUM AND MODERATE WORKERS
PAID SICK DAYS. LET'S FACE IT.
IF YOU'RE AN EXECUTIVE, IF YOU
ARE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN
ECONOMICALLY, YOU'RE SICK, YOU
CAN TAKE A DAY OFF.
BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE A LINE WORKER?
WHAT IF YOU ARE AT THE FRONT DESK?
WHAT IF YOU ARE A LOW-WAGE
WORKER?
WHAT IF YOU ARE A MINIMUM WAGE WORKER?
THAT'S WHEN YOU DON'T SEE MANY
OF THE BENNYS GOING AROUND OR
YOU COULD TAKE A DAY OFF BUT
YOU'RE NOT GETTING PAID FOR IT.
IN THAT CASE YOU ARE FORCING THE
WORKER INTO A TERRIBLE CHOICE.
LACK OF INCOME OR HEALTH?
WHICH DO YOU WANT TO PICK TODAY?
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE
TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGEO BE ABLE
TO MAKE A DECISION ON.
I YIELD BACK TO THE GENTLELADY.
MS. MOORE: THANK YOU FOR YIELDING.
SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY AND ROSA
DELAURO HAVE WORKED
COLLABORATIVELY ON THIS BILL,
AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY
CALCULATED THROUGH THEIR STUDIES
THE COST OF WHAT THEY CALL,
PRESENTEISM.
I GUESS THAT'S THE BE OBJECT SIT
OF ABSENTEEISM.
MR. ELLISON: WHAT IS
PRESENTEISM?
IS IT ANYTHING LIKE ABSENTEEISM?
I YIELD BK.
MS. MOORE: PRESENTEISM IS THE
OPPOSITE OF ABSENTEEISM.
WHEN YOU SHOW UP TO WORK SICK,
KNOWING YOU'RE SICK BECAUSE OF
YOUR OWN SELF-INTEREST OF NOT
LOSING A DAY'S PAY, INFECTING
EVERYONE AT WORK, THIS COSTS OUR
NATIONAL ECONOMY $180 BILLION
ANNUALLY.
SHOWING UP SICK COSTS $180
BILLION ANNUALLY.
SO FOR EMPLOYERS THIS COST
AVERAGES $255 PER EMPLOYEE PER
YEAR AND EXCEEDS THE COST OF
ABSENTEEISM AND MEDICAL AND
DISABILITY BENEFITS.
I YIELD BACK.
MR. ELLISON: THANK YOU FOR THAT
IMPORTANT STATISTIC.
WE GOT TO COUNT UP THE BILL.
THE REAL DIFFICULTY IN A BILL
LIKE THE HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT IS
THAT WE KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE
WHO ARE JUST LOOKING ON THE NEXT
QUARTER, THE NEXT MINUTE, THE
NEXT MOMENT AND IF THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LITTLE
BIT OF MONEY IN THE SHORT-TERM,
THAT'S GOING TO COST MONEY.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
NOT DOING IT IS GOING TO COST
WAY, WAY, WAY MORE MONEY.
SO THE HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT IS A
PART OF A PROGRESSIVE VISION.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE --
PROGRESSIVE VISION.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE WAGNER ACT.
JUST LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, JUST
LIKE WORKERS' COMPENSATION, JUST
LIKE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT
PROGRAMS AND PIECES OF
LEGISLATION PASSED IN AMERICA
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED
LIBERAL OR EVEN RADICAL AT ONE
TIME, BUT AMERICANS HAVE COME TO
RELY ON.
AND EXPECT FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.
IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO AS
AMERICANS TOGETHER.
WE SHARE, WE ALLOW IN THE
MARKETPLACE YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN
THING, YOU'RE FREE TO COME UP
WITH YOUR IDEA AND MAKE YOUR
MONEY.
CERTAIN THINGS WE DO TOGETHER.
WE DEFEND A NATION TOGETHER.
WE DEFEND OUR STREETS WITH THE POLICE TOGETHER.
WE PROVIDE JUSTICE TO OUR COURTS
TOGETHER.
WE MAKE SURE OUR ELDERLY ARE NOT
EATING DOG FOOD THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY.
WE DO THIS TOGETHER.
WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHOSE
PARENTS DIE HAVE SURVIVOR
BENEFITS THROUGH SOCIAL
SECURITY.
WE BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE
TOGETHER.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER THING WE SHOULD DO TOGETHER.
WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND SAY
THAT SEVEN DAYS OF PAID SICK
LEAVE A YEAR IS VERY MODEST
REQUEST, PARTICULARLY FOR LOW
AND MODERATE INCOME WORKERS, AND
IT PAYS TREMENDOUS DIVIDENDS
DOWN THE LINE.
IF THE GENTLELADY WOULD ALLOW
ME, I JUST WANT TO SHARE A
COUPLE OF STORIES FROM MY OWN
STATE OF MINNESOTA.
AND I'LL YIELD RIGHT BACK.
SHE SAYS I'M CURRENTLY A
STAY-AT-HOME MOM.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, CHRISTY.
HOWEVER, PRIOR TO THAT I WORKED
AS A NATURAL FOODS MANAGER IN A
CONVENTIONAL GROCERY STORE FOR SIX YEARS.
THIS COMPANY OFFERED NO SICK
LEAVE AT ALL TO ANY OF ITS
EMPLOYEES.
MANY PEOPLE OEN WORK SICK OUT
OF NECESSITY.
CHRISTY, WE'LL TRY TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AMANDA FROM MINNESOTA.
I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE
SICK TIME AT MY JOB AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
WHEN I WAS IN MY EARLY 30'S, I
WAS TOTALLY HEALTHY.
EXERCISED REGULARLY, AT A
HEALTHY WEIGHT, AND SUDDENLY
DEVELOPED A RARE KIDNEY DISEASE
REQUIRING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO
MULTIPLE CLINICS TO GET MULTIPLE DIAGNOSTICS.
THIS TOOK A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM WORK.
THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO GET
PAID FOR THIS TIME.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCOME IN
ADDITION TO THE STRESS OF THE
CONDITION, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNBEARABLE.
I'M NOT SO NAIVE TO BELIEVE
THIS IS A REALITY OF EVERY WORKPLACE.
I'M VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT MANY PEOPLE FACE STRUGGLES
SIMILAR TO MINE ON A DAILY
BASI
IT'S TIME TO GUARANTEE WORKERS
PAID TIME TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES
SO THEY ARE ABLE TO GET THEIR
WORK DONE EFFICIENTLY AT NO RISK
TO THEMSELVES OR THEIR CO-WORKERS.
OR WHAT ABOUT THE SITUATION THAT
CINDY IS IN?
CINDY FROM MINNESOTA, I WORK --
I WORK A PART-TIME JOB FOR A
UNIVERSITY AS A RESEARCHER.
IN MY CATEGORY, SICK LEAVE IS
ALL DISCRETIONARY AND FLEXIBLE.
HOWEVER NO PAID VACATION DAYS
ACCRUE EVER FOR ME.
THE ONLY WAY I FEEL LEGIT IN
SCHEDULING A WEEK'S VACATION IS
IF I AM NEVER SICK AND MAKE UP
THOSE HOURS PREAND POST.
THAT'S FROM CINDY.
I OFFER THESE STORIES BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT
OUT THAT THIS -- THE HEALTHY
FAMILIES ACT IS GOING TO HELP
AMERICANS ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES.
REAL PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING DAY.
THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH WORKERS,
THE PROTECTION FOR WORKERS RIGHT
TO ORGANIZE, SOCIAL SECURITY,
WORKERS' COMPENSATION, THIS IS
RIGHT IN LINE WITH
IMPORTANT AND PROGRESSIVE STEP
AMERICANS HAVE MADE IN ORDER TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
YOUR AVERAGE AMERICAN.
THIS IS LIKE THE MINIMUM WAGE.
THIS IS LIKE WORKERS RIGHTS.
THIS IS LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS.
THIS IS LIKE WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO AT THIS TIME.
IT'S A PART OF A PROGRESSIVE
VISION THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK
I YIELD BACK TO THE GENTLELADY.
MS. MOORE: THANK YOU FOR YIELDING.
THOSE ARE VERY COMPELLING STORIES.
AND I HAVE SOME HERE, TOO.
BEFORE I TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS
SORT OF TESTIMONIES FROM
WISCONSIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A
POINT THAT THIS LEGISLATION
RECOGNIZES THE IORTANCE OF NOT
HAMSTRINGING SMALL BUSINESSES.
ALL BUSINESSES WITH UNDER 15
EMPLOYEES WOULD BE EXEMPT.
SO PERHAPS MY EXAMPLE OF THE DRY
CLEANERS WASN'T APPROPRIATE, BUT
CERTAINLY WHEN YOU HAVE UNDER 15
EMPLOYEES, THOSE EMPLOYERS ARE
EXEMPT FROM PROVIDING THE SEVEN
DAYS OF SICK LEAVE.
MR. ELLISON: WOULD THE
GENTLELADY YIELD?
IF WE WERE TO PASS THE HLTHY
FAMILIES ACT, THEN THE LARGER
BUSINESS, MEDIUM TO LARGER
BUSINESSES WOULD PROVIDE THESE
SEVEN DAYS.
NOW, BIG BUSINESS HAS A WAY OF
SETTING A TREND FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
SO IF BIG BUSINESSES DID THIS,
PERHAPS SMALL BUSINESSES WOULD
FEWER THAN 15 EMPLOYEES WOULD
SAY, HEY, IT'S WORKING FOR THEM.
IT'S THE INDUSTRY STANDARD.
IT MAKES SENSE.
WE MIGHT JUST DO IT VOLUNTARILY.
I YIELD BACK.
MS. MOORE: ACTUALLY DATA ARE
CONCLUSIVE THAT OUR NATIONAL
ECONOMY WOULD EXPERIENCE A NET
SAVINGS OF $8.1 BILLION A YEAR
WITH JUST PROVIDING EMPLOYEES
WITH THESE SEVEN DAYS OF SICK
TIME.
AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT,
PRODUCTIVITY IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
I CAN REMEMBER AT THE TIME WHEN
MY MOTHER DIED I WAS SHOWING UP
AT WORK AND JUST STARING AT THE
WALL.
I WAS NOT WELL.
BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME GRIEF I
WAS EXPERIENCING.
AND I WAS AT WORK.
AND MY BOSSES TOLD ME TO GET UP
AND GO HOME, PLEASE.
AND SO WHEN I CAME BACK I WAS
MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON MY JOB.
THAT PRODUCTIVITY IS NOT GOOD.
THOTHER THING IS THAT WE ARE
HUMAN BEINGS.
EMPLOYERS EXPERIENCE A LOT OF
TURNOVER BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE
EMPLOYEE LOYALTY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE A BASIC SENSE OF
EMPATHY AND HUMANITY.
THERE'S NO WAY ITHE WORLD THAT
I WOULD WANT TO WORK FOR AN
EMPLOYER WHO COULDN'T EMPATHIZE
WITH MY GRIEF OVER HAVING LOST
MY MOTHER AND WOULDN'T GIVE ME A
DAY OR TWO TO PULL MYSELF
TOGETHER.
SO PRODUCTIVITY IS WHAT IS LOST
WHEN WE DON'T PROVIDE SICK DAYS.
I YIELD BACK TO THE GENTLEMAN
OM MINNESOTA.
MR. ELLISON: I THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT LESLEY
FROM MINNESOTA.
LESLEY SAYS, I USED TO WAIT
TABLES FULL-TIME AND THERE ARE
RARE OCCASIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET
SICK -- GET PAID SICK DAYS LIKE
WHEN I WORKED FOR LARGE CHAIN
HOTEL.
HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE THAT WHEN -- THAT YOU
WILL BE ABLE YOUR HOURLY MINIMUM
WAGE NOT ANY COMPENSATION FOR
LOST TIPS, WHICH IS THE VAST
MAJORITY OF YOUR MONEY AS A WAIT
PERSON.
IN FACT, MOST SERVERS BARELY
SEEK A PAYCHECK.
IT IS EATEN UP WITH TAXES TAKEN
FOR DECLARED TIPS.
YES, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DECLE
TIPS, IT'S A MYTH YOU CAN
CONCEAL THIS INFORMATION.
SO EVEN IF YOU DO GET PAID SICK
LEAVE OR PAID VACATION, WHICH IS
UNLIKELY, IT IS NOT YOUR -- IN
YOUR INTEREST TO USE IT.
SERVERS BASICALLY CANNOT GET
PAID UNLESS THEY ARE PHYSICALLY
AT WORK AND RESTAURANTS ARE MUCH
-- ARE SUCH HECTIC PLACES THAT
IF YOU ARE SHORT STAFFED THE
QUALITY OF SERVICE SUFFERS EVERYWHERE.
CUSTOMERS IN RESTAURANTS ARE
NOTORIOUSLY UNSYMPATHETIC TO
DETAILS LIKE THIS.
ANOTHER QUICK ONE, CARRIE FROM
MINNESOTA, MY KIDS ARE AGES 2
AND 3 AND THE CHILDCARE CENTER
DOESN'T TAKE THEM WHEN THEY ARE SICK.
NEITHER MY HUSBAND NOR I HAVE
PAID SICK DAYS.
PLEASE PASS THE HEALTHY FAMILY ACT.
I YIEL
.
MS. MOORE: I CAN TELL YOU THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MINNESOTA, I FEEL
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE
LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE WHEN
PEOPLE SHOW UP KNOWINGLY ILL --
MR. ELLISON: I HAVE TO ANSWER
THIS CALL BECAUSE IT SAYS IT'S
IMMEDIATE.
MS. MOORE: I HAVE TO WONDER WHAT
THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE OF
FOLK COMING TO WORK KNOWINGLY,
KNOWING THAT THEY ARE SICK.
THERE IS A CHORUS OF PUBLIC
OFFICIALS WHO GIVE DIRECTIVES TO
PEOPLE SAYING THAT IF YOU HAVE
SYMPTOMS OF A PANDEMIC, THEN YOU
SHOULD STAY AT HOME.
WE HEAR THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL SAY IF YOU'RE SICK AND
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, STAY HOME.
WE HEAR DR. RICHARD BESSER THE
ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL, SAY, YOU
SHOULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL OR GET ON
AIRPLANES OR OTHER LARGE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IF YOU'RE
ILL.
WE HEAR FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
THAT THE PRESS SECRETARY SAYING,
CLEARLY, WE ALL HAVE INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH
THIS SITUATION.
AND WE SHOULD ALL BE PRACTICING
GOOD PRACTICES AND STAY AT HOME.
WE HEAR SECRETARY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
JANET NAPOLITANO, TELLING US AGAIN, THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T
SOLVE THIS ALONE.
WE NEED EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED
STATES TO TAKE SOME
RESPONSIBILITY.
IF YOU ARE SICK, STAY AT HOME.
WE HEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA, HIS 100
DAYS' PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING,
THE KEY NOW IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE MAINTAIN GOOD VIGILANCE AND
THAT EVERYBODY RESPONDS
APPROPRIATELY AND STAY AT HOME.
IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK, KEEP THEM
OUT OF SCHOOL.
AND WE HEAR OF THIS OVER AND
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND SO, I WOULD -- I WOULD
FINALLY YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
IN MY FINAL WORDS HERE AND JUST
ASK YOU AS AN ATTORNEY, AS A
MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, WHAT ARE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF KNOWING THAT
YOU'RE ILL AND SHOWING UP AT
WORK BECAU YOU DON'T HAVE A
PAID SICK DAY?
MR. ELLISON: THANK YOU
GENTLELADY FOR YIELDING.
YOU MIGHT END UP BEING CHARGED
WITH NEGLIGENCE, KNOWING THAT
YOU'RE SICK, KNOWING THAT YOU'RE
CONTAGIOUS AND STILL GOING TO
WORK MIGHT POTENTIALLY -- SOME
SMART LAWYER MIGHT FIGURE OUT A
WAY TO SUE YOU FOR NEGLIGENCE
BECAUSE YOU EXPOSED THEM TO AN
ILLNESS.
IT COULD BE TAKEN UP BY WORKERS'
COMPENSATION BUT SOMEONE HAS TO
PAY SOMETHING SOMEWHERE AND
CLEARLY IF YOU GOT AN ON-THJOB
ILLNESS OR INJURY, IT WOULD BE A
WORKERS' COMP. CLAIM.
I WANT TO THANK THEENTLELADY
FROM WISCONSIN.
AS SHE KNOWS, SHE IS ONE OF MY
FAVORITE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND A WONDERFUL
HUMAN BEING ALL THE WAY AROUND.
I WANT TO WISH THE GENTLELADY
HAPPY NOT THERS' DAY AND THANK
HER FOR HER -- MOTHER'S DAY AND
WE HAVE A DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO
PRESENT A PROGRESSIVE VISION FOR
AMERICA, WHICH WAY FORWARD.
WELL, THE WAY FORWARD IS TO BE
MORE INCLUSIVE, TO BRING MORE
PEOPLE INTO THE WARM EMBRACE OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S
GENEROSITY.
THE WAY FORWARD IS PEACE AND
DIALOGUE AND TO HAVE A BETTER
AMERICA, HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR EVERYBODY AND AS EVERYBODY
DOES BETTER, WITH THAT.
IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER PROGRESSIVE
MESSAGE AND I WANT TO THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
OUR TIME.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 6, 2009, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR.
GINGREY, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MINORITY LEADER.
MR. GINGREY: MR. SPEAKER, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME TIME
ON THE FLOOR THIS EVENING WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES.
AND I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO
DIFFERENT ISSUES.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ENERGY
AND PARTICULARLY THE SCHEME OF
CARBON TAX OR CAP AND TRADE AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY, RENEWABLE
QUOTAS, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE
THAT'S A HUGELY IMPORTANT ISSUE
THAT'S FACING THE NATION AND THE
CONGRESS IS DEALING WITH AT THE
PRESENT TIME.
AND PARTICULARLY THROUGH THE
COMMITTEE ON WHICH I SERVE,
ENERGY A COMMERCE.
AND THE OTHER BIG ISSUE ALSO
COMING THROUGH THE ENERGY AND
COMMERCE AND A COUPLE OF OTHER
COMMITTEES IS THE ISSUE OF
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
NOW, PRESIDENT OBAMA, WHEN HE
WAS SWORN IN AND SHORTLY AFTER
THAT, SPOKE TO A JOINT SESSION
OF CONGRESS HERE IN THIS HOUSE
CHAMBER AND TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE IN HIS OPINION,
DESPITE THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
AND THE NEED FOR STIMULUS BILLS,
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
IN FACT, WORTH OF STIMULUS
BILLS, SPENDING ON PROJECTS,
HOPEFULLY GETTING THE ECONOMY
GOING AGAIN.
THE TARP MONEY THAT WENT TO
BANKS, CONTINUING TO GO TO
BANKS, THAT'S EXPANDED TO
INCLUDE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
WE HAVE SPENT LITERALLY HUNDREDS
OF BILLIONS, IF NOT TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS TRYING TO STIMULATE THE
ECONOMY.
BUT THE PRESIDENT STILL FEELS
VERY STRONGLY AS DOES THIS
MAJORITY PARTY, DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, MR. SPEAKER, OF PUSHING
AHEAD, PUSHING AHEAD WITH THIS
IDEA OF SOLVING THE GLOBAL
WARMING ISSUE BY LIMITING THE
AMOUNT OF CARBON THAT CAN BE
PRODUCED AND RELEASED INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE AS WE GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS AND ALWAYS HAVE FOR 100
OR MORE YEARS OF PRODUCING
ELECTRICITY MAINLY FROM COAL.
AND SO THAT IS ON THE FRONT
BURNER, MR. SPEAKER, OF THE
ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT
NOW IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND
THEN OF COURSE THE OTHER ISSUE
IS REFORMING HEALTH CARE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY TALKING
ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE
EXPERTISE IN THAT AREA, DARN
WELL SHOULD, HAVING SPENT 30
YEARS PRACTICING MEDICINE.
I WILL ALLOW TO YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND TO MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES THAT JUST PRACTICING
MEDICINE AND SEEING PATIENTS AND
NOT BEING IN THE RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
GIVE YOU ALL THE ANSWERS IN
REGARD TO HOW WE GO ABOUT
FUNDING HEALTH CARE FOR 300
MILLION PEOPLE, HOWE DEAL WITH
THE MASSIVE EXPENSE OF
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS LIKE
MEDICARE AND MED CARED AND STILL
-- MEDICAID AND STILL MAKE SURE
EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
AND THAT IT IS AFFORDABLE.
IT IS AFFORDABLE EVEN FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE MORE THAN ONE SERIOUS
MEDICAL CONDITION THAT THEY'RE
DEALING WITH.
SO WE ALL, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE, MR. SPEAKER, REALIZE THAT
THIS IS A PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE OUGHT
TO BE BURYING OUR HEAD IN THE
SAND AND HOPING IT WILL GO AWAY.
IT WON'T.
IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE, JUST
LIKE THE SOCIAL SECURITY CRIS.
AS WE GET MORE AND MORE OF OUR
BABY BOOMERS REACHING THAT MAGIC
AGE OF 65, THAT WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH PEOPLE WORKING REALLY TO
PAY INTO THE PAYROLL TAX TO
PROVIDE THE BENEFIT THAT'S BEEN
PROMISED.
AND I KNOW THAT SCARCE OUR
SENIORS, AND IT SHOULD, ALTHOUGH
EVERY REFORM THAT WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT IN REGARD TO SOCIAL
SECURITY HAS ASSURED AND WILL
CONTINUE TO ASSURE, I THINK NO
MATTER WHO IS IN THE MAJORITYP
HERE OR WHAT THE ADMISTRATION,
HAS BEEN REPUBLICAN UNDER
PRESID
DEMOCRATIC UNDER PRESIDENT
OBAMA.
IT WAS DEMOCRATIC UNDER
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THESE
THINGS GO BACK AND FORTH.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE, SENIORS NEED
TO BE COMFOR
IF YOU'RE OVER 55 AS AN EXAMPLE,
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY
CHANGES IN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WITHIN 10
YEARS OF RECEIVING THAT BENEFIT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
DON'T FIX THE SYSTEM, WE DON'T
TRY TO FIX THE SYSTEM FOR OUR
SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AS THEY COME
FORWARD, BECAUSE IF WE DO
NOTHING, THEN CLEARLY THERE WILL
BE A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT
GET THE BENEFIT THAT THEIR
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS HAVE
RECEIVED UNDER THIS PROGRAM OF
SOCIAL SECURITY.
AND THE SAME THING IS TRUE OF
MEDICARE AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR OUR
SENIORS, 65 AND OLDER AND FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE YOUNGER,
BUT ARE DISABLED, TOTALLY
DISABLED AND NEED THAT HELP.
SO WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S
A PROBLEM AND WE'VE RECOGNIZED
IT FOR A WHILE AND AGREE THAT
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NOW, THE TIMING OF THAT, I THINK
, IS IN QUESTION WHEN YOU TALK
TO BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND
SOME ON OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE
FEEL WE NEED TO GET THE ECONOMY
BACK ON ITS FEET BEFORE WE SPEND
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS -- EXCUSE
ME, CHANGE THAT M TO A B,
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
ON TRYING TO REFORM OUR HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM WHILE WE ARE STILL
IN A DEEP, DEEP RECESSION AND
PEOPLE CAN'T GET LOANS,
BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR CAN'T
GET LOANS, PEOPLE ARE STILL
HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
GETTING A MORTGAGE ON THEIR
HOME, 401K'S ARE DOWN AND
I.R.A.'S, WHICH IS THE SAVINGS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOR THEIR
RETIREMENT.
THAT ALONG WITH SOCI SECURITY.
I'M KIND OF THE OPINION, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT WE
MOVE TOO QUICKLY FOR FEAR THAT
THE ECONOMY WILL WORSEN AND NOT
GET BETTER, AND ALSO FOR FEAR IN
OUR HASTE TO DO SOMETHING EVEN
IF IT MIGHT BE WRONG, IT WILL BE
WRONG.
THAT ADDAGE IS A WRONG-HEADED
ADDAGE.
IN ANY REGARD, WE DO AGREE THAT
IF THE STATISTICS ARE CORRECT
THAT 47 MILLION IN THE GREAT
COUNTRY OF THE UNITED STATES GO
EVERY DAY WITHOUT HEALTH
INSURANCE, THERE'S SOMETHING
WRONG WITH OUR SYSTEM AND WE CAN
DO BETTER IN THAT REGARD.
WE SHOULD DO BETTER.
AND AS I WILL TK OVER THE NEXT
45 MINES OR SO, WE CAN AND
WILL DO BETTER.
NOW, MR. SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND SOMETHING.
I THINK THEY KNOW THIS, THAT
STATISTICS CAN BE AWFULLY
MISLEADING.
THE 47 MILLION UNINSURED
STATISTIC WAS OBTAINED BY THE
CENSUS BUREAU.
AND WHAT DOES THE
DO?
YOU GET A CALL FROM THE CENSUS
BUREAU AND THEY PROBABLY ASKED
THIS QUESTION, ARE YOU EMPLOYED,
YES OR NO?
DO YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?
ARE YOU AN ADULT, HEAD OF
HOUSEHOLD, END OF STORY.
AND THE RESPONSE FROM 47 MILLION
IS NO, I DON'T HAVE HEAH
INSURANCE.
NOW, THE QUESTION THAT IS NOT
ASKED IS, ARE YOU A CITIZEN OF
THE UNITED STATES?
ARE YO A PERMANENT LEGAL
RESIDENT, THOUGH NOT A CITIZEN,
IN OTHER WORDS, A GREEN CARD
HOLDER.
ARE YOU HERE LEGALLY ON A
TEMPORARY WORKER PROGRAM?
ARE YOU AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT.
I THINK AT THAT POINT, THE PHONE
WOULD HEAR A LOUD CLICK, BEC
I'M SURE IF SOMEONE WERE HERE
ILLEGALLY, THEY'RE NOT LIKELY TO
GIVE IT TO ANYBODY, ESPECIALLY A CENSUS WORKER.
BUT THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT IS
NOT ASKED IS, HOW LONG IF YOU DO
HAVE HEA
THE CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING
THAT?
HOW LONG HAVE YOU GONE WITHOUT
HEALTH INSURANCE?
AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE FOUND
TH
JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THEY
MIGHT SAY,
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, I HAVE
THIS COBRA, TEMPORARY HEALTH
INSURANCE THAT'S ALLOWED WHEN
YO
CONTINUE FROM THAT COMPANY.
IF THE COMPANY WAS PROVIDING THE
HEALTH INSURANCE, THEN THEY
WOULD LET YOU CONTINUE, BUT YOU
WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE BECAUSE
YOU WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE GROUP
RATE, BUT YOU COULD BE COVERED
FOR 18 MONTHS, HOPEFULLY, YOU
WOULD LONG RE-EMPLOYED IN
ANOTHER GROUP POLICY AT A
REASONABLE RATE.
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO SAY I
DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND
THEY ADD UP TO THAT MAGIC NUMBER
OF 47 MILLION, THEY'RE GOING TO
GET HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN THEY
GO BACK TO WORK AND PROBABLY
WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
.
PROBABLY 10 MILLION OF THE 47
MILLION ARE THE ONE THAT IS
CLICK THE PHONE DOWN WHEN THEY
WERE ASKED IF THEY WERE ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS. ABOUT 10 MILLION.
NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO 37 MILLION.
AND IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT
40% OF THE REST MAKE AT LEAST
$50,000 A YEAR.
YOU MIGHT SAY, GEE, IF YOU MAKE
$50,000, EVEN IF YOU'RE A FAMILY
OF THREE, YOU PROBABLY OUGHT TO
BE ABLE TO AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING BE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID.
YOU MAY PROBABLY NOT BE
ELIGIBLE, NOT IN MY STATE OF GEORGIA.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR THE CHIP PROGRAM, PEACH CARE
WE CALL IT, FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
AND I'M ASSUMING OF COURSE
YOU'RE NOT 65 OR DISABLED, YOU
ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.
SO WHY DO THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE
AND THEY MAKE AT LEAST $50,000 A
YEAR, WHY DO THEY CHOOSE NOT TO
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?
I WOULD GUESS THAT MOST OF THESE
PEOPLE ARE IN THE WORK FORCE,
MAYBE THEY ARE SINGLE, THEY ARE
PROBAB BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21
AND 40, MANY OF THEM ARE
ATHLETES, NOT PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETES, I DON'T MEAN TO IMPLY
THAT, BUT ATHLETIC, ENGAGE IN
SPORTS, WORK OUT, AND HAVE GOOD
GENES.
GRANDPARENTS LIVE TO LATE 80'S,
EARLY 90'S, MAYBE THEY GOT THE
METHUSELAH GENE WHERE THEIR
RELATIVES LIVE INTO THE
HUNDREDS.
WHY SHOULD I TAKE $250, $300 A
MONTH, WHATEVER IT COSTS, MAYBE
$400 A MONTH, AND BUY HEALTH
INSURANCE WHEN I DON'T EVEN GO
TO THE DOCTOR EVERY YEAR.
I DON'T NEED TO.
NEVER EVEN GET A COLD.
I DON'T TAKE ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.
I MIGHT TAKE A VITAMIN.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT
WOULD ROLL THE DICE AND SAY, I DON'T NEED IT.
AND I'M VERY DISCIPLINED PERSON
AND I'LL TAKE THAT $350 A MONTH
AND PUT IT INTO NOT A PASS BOOK
SAVINGS, BUT INVEST IN A MUTUAL
FUND AND EVERY MONTH I PUT INTO
IT.
THE MUTUAL FUND WHEN IT GOES UP
IN VALUE MY MONEY DOESN'T BUY AS
MANY SHARES, BUT WHEN IT GOES
DOWN IN VALUE IT BUYS MORE SHARES.
THAT'S WHAT WE CALL DOLLAR COST AVERAGING.
AND GEE, YOU KNOW, OVER A
-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME I'M GOING
TO HAVE A TON OF MONEY AND OVER
30-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME I MAY
HAVE A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS THAT I HAVE SAVED BY NOT
TAKING OUT A HEALTH INSURANCE
POLICY.
I DON'T RECOMMEND IT, MR.
SPEAKER.
I DON'T THINK AS A PHYSICIAN
MEMBER THINK IT'S A BAD BET.
YOU'RE ROLLING THE DICE.
YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY BUT YOU
COULD WRAP OUT.
-- CRAP OUT.
IN OTHER WORDS COME DOWN WITH
CANCER OR AGE 35 HAVE A HEART
ATTACK AND THEN OF COURSE YOU
WOULD BE OUT OF LUCK.
AND
GETTING INSURED, OR IF YOU COULD
-- HAD ACCESS TO INSURANCE, IT
WOULD BE SO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE
NOW YOU'RE A PREFERRED RISK.
AND IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE, THEN,
THAT THE INSURANCE WOULD COST
YOU MORE.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MEDICARE
PROGRAM ON PART B, THE VOLUNTARY
PART, PART A OF COURSE 65 AND
DISABLED, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY
IN PART A, THE HOSPITAL PART OR
THE PART THAT COVERS NURSING
HOME CARE.
BUT FOR SEEING A DOCTOR AND
PAYING SURGICAL FEES AND HAVING
OUTPATIENT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
DONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE
PART B OF MEDICARE.
NOR DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE PART
D, THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PART OF MEDICARE.
THAT'S OPTIONAL.
YOU MIGHT DECIDE TO BECAUSE
YOU'RE STILL WORKING TO CONTINUE
TO GET YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE
FROM YOUR COMPANY.
OR YOU MIGHT DECIDE, WELL, HERE
AGAIN I JUST -- I'M HEALTHY AND
I NEVER BOUGHT INSURANCE BEFORE
I GOT ELIGI
I'LL TAKE THE PART A BECAUSE
THAT'S KIND OF GIVEN.
I GET THAT.
FREE SO TO SPEAK.
SOMEBODY ELSE IS PAYING FOR IT.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS
PART B.
YOU HAVE THAT OPTION.
NOBODY FORCES ANYBODY TO SIGN UP
FOR PART A OR PART B.
AND OF COURSE HERE AGAIN IF YOU
GET SICK TWO YEARS LATER NOW
YOU'RE 67, LET'S SAY, AND YOU
CALL UP SOCIAL SECURITY, SAY,
OH, I HAVE DECIDED NOW I THINK I
WANT TO SIGN UP FOR MEDICARE
PART B AND PART D BECAUSE NOW I
HAD A HEART ATTACK AND I'M ON
FIVE MEDICATIONS.
SOMETHING TO LOWER MY
CHOLESTEROL, SOMETHING TO MAKE
MY HEARTBEAT STRONGER, I'M ON A
WATER PILL, SO I DON'T BUILD UP
TOO MUCH FLUID.
OH, BY THE WAY I HAVE COME DOWN
WITH THE GOUT.
WELL, YOU CAN SIGN UP AT THAT
POINT FOR MEDICARE PART B AND
PART D, BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S GOING TO
COST YOU MORE.
BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE MUC
RISK.
WELL, THAT'S THE WAY PRIVATE
INSURANCE WORKS AS WELL.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS
GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR US
TO SAY TO THE PRIVATE MARKET,
INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO ARE
INSURING YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT IF
SOMEONE DECIDES THEY DON'T WANT
HEALTH INSURANCE UNTIL THEY GET
SICK, THEN CLEARLY THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY MORE.
CLEARLY THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO PAY MORE.
SO THOSE PEOPLE THAT MAKE MORE
THAN $50,000 A YEAR AND ELECT
NOT TO TAKE HEALTH INSURANCE
THAT THEY COULD AFFORD TO PAY
FOR, THEY ARE TAKING A CHANCE,
THEY ARE ROLLING THE DICE, BUT
IN THIS COUNTRY THANK GOD, YOU
CAN DO THAT.
YOU'RE FREE TO DO THAT.
SO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
INCLUDED WHEN THE CENSUS BUREAU
CALLS AND SAYS DO YOU HAVE
INSURANCE, THEY ARE IN THAT GROUP.
THEY ARE IN THAT GROUP.
IT IS ALSO ESTIMATED THAT AS
MANY AS 10 MILLION OF THE 47
MILLION, GUESS WHAT, ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT.
THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO INQUIRE.
OR MAYBE BE SOMEBODY GAVE THEM
SOME MISINFORMATION.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE MAKING
TOO MUCH MONEY.
AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR THE CHIP PROGRAM, THE
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM WHICH IS A VERY GENEROUS
ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP.
EVEN MORE GENEROUS THAN
MEDICAID.
YOU TAKE THOSE PEOPLE, SUB TRACT
THEM FROM THE NUMBER -- SUBTRACT
THEM FROM THE NUMBER, AND YOU
PROBABLY END UP, MR. SPEAKER,
WITH I'M GOING TO BE GENEROUS
HERE AND SAY 15 MILLION TO 20
MILLION THAT DON'T HAVE
INSURANCE.
OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF US
LISTEN TO WHAT I SAID ABOUT THAT
NUMBER NOT BEING 47 MILLION.
BECAUSE STATISTICS IF THEY ARE
NOT ACCURATE CAN CAUSE US FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE, EVEN FROM A
POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE, TO MAKE
SOME HUGE MISTAKES.
SPENDING $2 BILLION OR MORE,
$3.5 BILLION MAYBE BECAUSE WE
STILL HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT OVER
FROM THE $6 BILLION THAT WE PUT
IN THE TREASURY, TOOK OUT OF THE
TREASURY, PUT IN HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AND THE C.D.C.
FOR COMBATING BIRD FLU, WHICH
NEVER REALLY OCCURRED IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO
PROBABLY PUT ANOTHER $2 BILLION
INTO THE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL
COMING UP TO TREAT THE INFLUENZA
TYPE AH 1 N 1, FORGIVE ME IF I
SAY AT LEAST ONE TIME, SWINE
FLU.
WHICH IS -- AND I HOPE AND PRAY
I DON'T HAVE TO EAT THESE WORDS,
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TURN OUT
TO BE A FAIRLY MILD TYPE OF FLU.
NOT AS SEVERE, MR. SPEAKER, AS
YOUR SEASONAL FLU WHICH ON A
YEARLY BASIS OVER MANY YEARS WE
HAVE LOST 35,000 PEOPLE, 35,000
PEOPLE DYING FROM THE REGULAR SEASONAL FLU.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DEVELOPED --
WE HAVE A VACCINE EVERY YEAR
-- WE TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT
NEXT YEAR'S FLU IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE.
THE C.D.C. DOES A GREAT BE JOB
ON THAT BY THE WAY.
THE FLU VACCINE IS GOOD AND
CERTAINLY IS GOOD FOR THE
ELDERLY AND IMMUNE COMPROMISED
AND VERY YOUNG.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THAT AT ALL.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.
I COMMEND THE C.D.C.
BUT AGAIN I MEAN WE TEND TO
REACT TO THE LATEST CRISIS
SOMETIMES IT'S MEDIA DRIVEN,
THIS MEDIA FRENZY, LITERALLY
CREATING A PANDEMIC, YES.
NOT A PANDEMIC OF THE FLU, BUT
PANDEMIC OF PANIC.
SO WHAT'S THE PRESIDENT TO DO?
HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET KATRINA'
D OVER THIS THING.
SO WE THROW A LOT OF MONEY AT IT
THAT MAY WELL NOT BE NECESSARY.
AS I TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND
THE NEED FOR REFORM AND BRING UP
SOME OF THESE STATISTICS AND TRY
TO PEEL THE LAYERS, UNION BACK
AND GET TO THE REAL FACTS SO
THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM
IS, HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT THE
RESPONSE IS IF YOU DON'T REALLY
DEFINE THE PROBLEM?
SO THAT'S WHAT THE LOYAL
OPPOSITION, THE MINORITY PARTY,
IN THIS CASE THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES OUR SYSTEM
WORK.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT GREAT.
UNLESS WE DON'T GO THROUGH
REGULAR ORDER AND DON'T GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND
MAYBE THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY WE
GET TO WEIGH IN ON THE MINORITY
SIDE IS THESE LATE AFTERNOON AND
LATE EVENING AFTER SCHOOL'S OUT
OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR AND INFORM.
YOU HOPE EVERYBODY'S LISTENING,
BUT MAYBE NOT.
MAYBE NOT.
SO AS I STAND HERE THIS EVENING
AND TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE
REFORM AND ALSO THE ENERGY BILL,
IT'S NOT TO BE PARTISAN
POLITICAL.
IT'S TO TAKE WHATEVER
OPPORTUNITY, MR. SPEAKER, THAT I
AS A MEMBER OF THE MINORITY
PARTY CAN GRAB ON TO ON BEHALF
OF OUR LEADERSHIP, JOHN BOEHNER,
AND ERIC CANTOR, AND OTHER
LEADERS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
TO PUT THE MESSAGE OUT.
AND THEY TRUST ME ON CERTAIN ISSUES.
OTHER MEMBERS ON OTHER ISSUES,
BECAUSE OF THE BACKGROUND THAT I
HAVE.
IN THIS CASE A BACKGROUND OF 30
YEARS OF PRACTICING MEDICINE AS
AN OB/GYN SPECIALIST IN
NORTHWEST GEORGIA.
I DON'T HAVE THE LAST WORD ON THIS.
MAYBE THE LAST WORD COMES FROM
SOMEBODY LIKE GUPTA FOR CNN OR
ROSENFELD FOR FOX NEWS.
I COMMEND EITHER ONE OF THOSE
GREAT DOCTORS ON SUNDAY MORNING
WHERE THEY DO 30-MINUTE SHOWS
AND TALK ABOUT ISSUES LIKE HOW
SHOULD WE REFORM HEALTH CARE,
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THIS
LATEST FLU CRISIS?
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR CHILD
GETS A LITTLE BIT SICK AND
YOU'RE WORRIED.
THOSE FOLKS DO A GREAT JOB.
BUT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
HERE TO SHARE OUR KNOWLEDGE AS
WELL.
SO AS I TALK, MR. SPEAKER, ABOUT
THAT 47 MILLION, I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE I THINK I'M GIVEN
ACCURATE INFORMA
TRULY ONLY 15 MILLION TO 20
MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS
IN REGARD TO NOT HAVING THE
ABILITY FINANCIALLY AND MAYBE
NOT HAVING THE ACCESS TO
INSURANCE AND HAVING NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHOW UP IN THE EMERGENCY
ROOM LATE AT NIGHT AND GETTING
VERY EXPENSIVE CARE AND
SUBSTANDARD CARE ONLY BECAUSE
THE DOCTORS -- THE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS THERE DON'T KNOW THEM.
THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR MEDICAL
HISTORY, AND WE DON'T HAVE
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS NOW
AS WE SHOULD HAVE, AS PRESIDENT
BUSH HAS CALLED FOR, AS
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS CALLED FOR,
AS I TOTALLY AGREE WITH BY 2014
IF NOT EVEN SOONER.
YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO IN A
SITUATION LIKE THAT OR EVEN IF
IT'S SOMEBODY THAT'S WELL
INSURED AND THEY JUST ON
VACATION AND THEY GET THIS GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO RUSSIA OR
SOMEWHERE AND OBVIOUSLY MOST
PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
THERE, AND THE DOCTORS DON'T
SPEAK ENGLISH, AND YOU SHOW UP
IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND THEY
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU
AND WHAT YOUR PAST HISTORY IS
AND WHAT MEDICATIONS YOU'RE ON.
BUT IF YOU HAD A RADIO FREQUENCY
IDENTIFIED CARD, HEALTH CARE
CARD, SMALLER MAYBE THAN AN
AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD THAT YOU
COULD JUST SWIPE, LIKE ONE OF
THESE CLEAR CARDS THAT SOME OF
US USE TO GO THROUGH SECURITY AT
THE AIRPORT, READ YOUR IRIS SCAN
OR WHATEVER, AND IT'S GOT EVERY
BIT OF MEDICAL INFORMATION,
EVERY OPERATION THAT YOU HAVE
EVER HAD, EVERY ALLERGY, EVERY
PRESCRIPTION THAT YOU'RE ON, AND
THE LANGUAGE IS IMMEDIATELY
TRANSFERRED FROM ENGLISH TO
RUSSIAN OR RUSSIAN TO ENGLISH OR
WHATEVER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE
CALL FULLY INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC
MEDICAL RECORDS.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
THANK GOODNESS, IS WORKING ON THAT.
AND WORKING VERY HARD ON IT.
.
PRESIDENT OBAMA PUT $18 BILLION
IN THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS
PACKAGE, RECOVERY ACT OF 2009
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I'M GLAD HE DID THAT.
I THINK WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO
IT.
WE NEED TO GIVE LOANS AND GRANTS
TO DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS AND
ENCOURAGE THEM.
BUT EVERY SYSTEM HAS TO BE
CERTIFIED BECAUSE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WITH MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID AND THE CHIP PROGRAM
AND V.A. PROGRAM AND TRICARE AND
OUR MILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
ACCOUNTS FOR MAYBE 65%, I WOULD
SAY AT LEAST 60% OF EVERY HEALTH
CARE DOLLAR THAT'S SPENT EVERY
YEAR, MR. SPEAKER.
WE'RE TOTALING $2.3 TRILLION,
17% OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC
PRODUCT IS HEALTH CARE DOLLARS.
SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY TO ME, WHY
SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT
VENDOR I BUY MY SOFTWARE AND
HARDWARE AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
FROM THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO MY
SPECIALTY, GENERAL SURGERY OR
PEDIATRICS OR PSYCHIATRY.
THE ANSWER IS, WELL, YOU DON'T
JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE OTHER
DOCTORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR
THE TWO HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTY,
-- THE WORLD DOESN'T END AT THE
COUNTY LINE.
AND THAT'S TRUE IN REGARD TO
COUNTRIES AS WELL AS WE TALK
ABOUT OUR BORDERS NORTH AND
SOUTH AND YOU THINK ABOUT OVER
IN EUROPE AND YOU HAVE SO MANY
SMALL COUNTRIES AND THE BORDERS
ARE SO POUROUS AND PEOPLE MOVE,
TRAVEL AND VACATION.
AND YOU WANT THAT ACTITY AND I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE, ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE,
WOULD SAY TO YOU, MR. SPEAKER,
AND YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
AND TO THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION, HEY, WE AGREE
WITH THAT.
WE AGREE LET'S SPEND SOME MONEY
AND WORK TOWARD A FULLY
INTEGRATED MEDICAL ELECTRIC TRON
SYSTEM.
THE RAND CORPORATION SAYS IT
WOULD SPEND $16 BILLION A YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD DO
THAT.
THAT WOULD BE QUITE CUT IN
THAT $2.3 TRILLION.
BUT EVEN IF IT'S $100 BILLION A
YEAR, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT
SAVINGS.
MAY BE IMPORTANT MORE THAN THAT
IS IT SAVE LIVES.
PEOPLE ON PLAVIX ARE NOT GO TO
GO INADVERTELY BECAUSE THEY
SHOW UP WITH AN ASCHEMEIC ATTACK
AND MAYBE THEY'RE ON THE VERGE
OF HAVING A STROKE, MAYBE SOME
DOCTOR WHO DOESN'T KNOW THEY
HAVE BEEN ON PLAVIX THAT MAYBE
THEY NEED A BLOOD THINNER AND
WHILE PREVENTING THIS PERSON
FROM HAVING A STROKE, THEY CAUSE
THEM TO HAVE A HEMORRHAGE IN THE
BRAIN AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE A
STROKE, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT
THE RESULTS ARE THE SAME,
THEY'RE CATASTROPHIC.
AND THEY CAN LEAD TO INSTANT
DEATH.
SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD SAVE
LIVES AND SAVE MONEY.
I THINK DOCTORS, IN FACT, MR.
SPEAKER, WOULD ULTIMATELY
REIMBURSED BETTER.
NOW THEY ARE VERY RELUCTANT, AT
LEAST 300,000 PHYSICIANS IN THIS
COUNTRY DON'T HAVE MH IN THE
WAY OF MEDICAL ELECTRONIC
RECORDS.
THEY MIGHT SEND THEIR BILL
ELECTRONICALLY AND PRESCRIBE
ELECTRONICALLY.
BUT THE WORDS OF THE PATIENT
WOULD BE SECURE, VERY SECURE AND
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OF THAT.
YOU DON'T GIVE THAT INFORMATION OUT TO ANYBODY THAT HAS NO
BUSINESS LOOKING AT IT.
OTHER PHYSICIANS, OF COURSE, AS
LONG AS THE PATIENT IS
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
IT. I THINK YOU'LL HAVE LESS
LAWSUITS, BECAUSE DOORS WOULD
BE LESS LIKELY TO MAKE AN ERROR
IN PRESCRIBING.
COSTS BECAUSE A DOCTOR WOULD NOT
AUTOMATICALLY ORDER AN M.R.I. OR
A CT SCAN FOR SOMEBODY WHO
PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
WITH A HEADACHE IF HE OR SHE,
THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, KNEW
THAT A WEEK AGO BY LOOKING AT
THOSE ELECTRONIC RECORDS, THE
PATIENT JUST HAD THAT DONE.
THEY MIGHT NOT DO AN EOCARDIO
GRAM IF IT WAS DONE YESTERDAY IN
THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
AND LASTLY WIT
MEDICAL RECORDS, DOCTORS ARE
REIMBURSED UNDER MEDICARE BASED
ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY SPEND
WITH A PATIENT.
NOW, IF IT'S A SURGICAL
PROCEDURE OR THE DELIVERY OF A
BABY, THESE THINGS ARE FAIRLY
EASY TO HAVE A STANDARDIZED
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT DEGREE OF
SERVICE.
BUT WHEN MOST OF THE VISIT IS
COGNITIVE, IT INVOLVES THE TIME
AND THINKING AND PHYSICAL EXAM
ON THE PART OF THE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER, THEN THE CODE THAT YOU
SUBMIT IS WHAT DETERMINES THE
REIMBURSEMENT.
AND I WILL SUBT TO YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND TO MY COLLEAGUES,
THAT MOST DOCTORS ARE AFRAID
THATTHEY SUBMIT A CODE THAT IS
TOO HIGH AND THEN SOME INSPECTOR
GENERAL AND CERTAINLY MEDICARE
OR SOCIAL SECURITY HAS THE RIGHT
TO DO THAT TO COME INTO YOUR
OFFICE IF YOU'RE SEEING MEDICARE
PATIENTS, AND LOOK AT YOUR
CHARTS.
IF YOU ARE OVERCODING, GAMING
THE SYSTEM, THEN NOT ONLY WOULD
YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK
AND YOU MAY GET KICKED OUT OF A
MEDICARE PROGRAM, BUT YOU COULD
GO TO JAIL.
YOU COULD GO TO JAIL.
DOCTORS HAVE A TENDENS SI TO
DE LOWER THAN HIGHER.
WITH ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS,
IT'S ALL DONE FOR YOU.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT HOW
THE PATI
ABOUT, WHAT TESTS YOU ORDERED
AND THEN IT LIKE A SIGN THAT
POPS UP THERE AND SAYS, THIS IS
THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT
CODE.
AND I THINK ULTIMATELY THE
DOCTORS WOULD BE REIMBURSED MORE
FAIRLY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH
TIME ON MEDICAL ELECTRONIC
RECORDS, BUT I TELL YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK
ABOUT THAT AND TO UNDERSTAND
IT'S IMPORTANT AND WHYE SHOULD
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE COME
TOGETHER ON THIS ONE.
IF WE CAN'T COME TOGETHER ON
ANYTHING ELSE, WE OUGHT TO COME
TOGETHER ON THIS ONE.
I SEE THAT I HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
ONE OF MY CLASSMATES AND I
ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE HIM ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR.
I SEE HIM EVERY DAY ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR, BUT TO HEAR HIM SPEAK ON
THE HOUSE FLOOR AND YOU WILL,
TOO, MR. SPEAKER, AS I PRESENT
TO YOU THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH,
MR. BISHOP.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO
TALK ABOUT, BUT WHEN HE TALKS,
IT'S WORTH LISTENING.
AND I YIELD TO MY FRIEND FROM
UTAH.
MR. BISHOP: CONGRESSMAN GINGREY,
I APPRECIATE THAT FLUKES AND
THERE'S NO WAY I COULD LIVE UP
TO THAT BUT I DID WANT TO COME
DOWN HERE AND TALK ABOUT NOT
HEALTH CARE SPECIFICALLY BUT
THINGS WE ARE DOING WITH ENERGY.
AND I REALIZE THERE IS SOMEWHAT
A CONNECTION BECAUSE WHAT DR.
GINGREY WAS TALKING ABOUT IS A
VISION OF ANOTHER APPROACH TO
TRY AND SOLVE THE ENERGY CRISIS.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AS
REPUICANS, IS TRYING TO GIVE
OPTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AND
CHOICES TO INDIVIDUALS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY, IT
IS THE SAME KIND OF CONCEPT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VISION
FOR AMERICA AND A ROAD OR OPTION
THAT CAN BE TAKEN AND IT'S NOT
JUST SIMPLY ONE.
I APPRECIATE THE CONCEPT OF
HEALTH CARE AND WHEN I LEAVE, I
EXPECT DR. GINGREY WILL COME
BACK AGAIN TO THAT AREA AND SHOW
THAT THESE ARE ALL THE CONCEPTS
THAT HAVE TO BE IN THERE.
I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT IF
I COULD, BECAUSE TODAY AT THE
WESTERN CAUCUS AS WELL AS THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE, DID
INTRODUCE A NEBILL THAT DEALS
WITH ENERGY.
AND IT IS ONCE AGAIN WITH THE
SAME PURPOSE OR OVERALL VISION
THAT DR. GINGREY WAS TALKING
ABOUT, BECAUSE WHAT OUR GOAL IS
TO SAY, THERE ARE TWO COMPETING
VISIONS OF WHERE AMERICA IS
READY TO GO, KIND OF LIKE THE
FROST POEM, TWO PATHS IN THE
WOODS DIFFICULT VERGING AND WE
HAVE TO CHOOSE WHICH WAY TO GO.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE OFFERED A
PROPOSAL OF CAP AND TAX.
AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE COMING
UP WITH A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL OF
TRYING TO TAKE THE CAP OFF OUR
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE HAVE THE CHOICE OF WHICH
OF THESE TWO PATHS AMERICANS
WANT TO TAKE.
IF WE GO WITH WHAT THE DEMOCRATS
ARE ALREADY PROPOSING, THERE
WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE
ENERGY COSTS OF EVERY INDIVIAL.
IT CAN BE AS HIGH AS $3,000,
WHICH IS A LEGITIMATE NUMBER,
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IT IS ALSO
DISPROPORTIONATE.
THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY THAT WILL HAVE A BIGGER
HIT THAN OTHERS.
AND IT IS WORSE ON THE POOR THAN
ANY OTHER SEGMENT.
IF YOU ARE RICH, THIS IS AN
INCONVENIENCE.
IF YOU'RE POOR, THERE IS A
DECISION WHETHER YOU CAN
CELEBRATE WITH HAMBURGER HELPER
OR NOT.
THE REPUBLICAN OPTION, THE
REPUBLICAN ROAD, IS TO TRY AND
INCREASE AND GROW OUR ENERGY
SUPPLY SO WE REDUCE THE COSTS,
BECAUSE THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE.
AND IT ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT
ENERGY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
VECLE FOR THOSE IN THE LOWER
CLASSES IN POVERTY TO RAISE
THEMSELVES UP.
THEIR ABILITY TO INCREASE OUR
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND OUR
WEALTH IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT
OF HAVING AFFORDABLE ENERGY.
THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH WILL CUT
JOBS.
THE GREATEST ESTIMATE, AND MOST
CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IS AT
LEAST THREE MILLION JOBS WILL BE
TAKEN.
THE REPUBLICAN ONE IS NOT TO
INCREASE TAXES BUT INCREASE THE
RIGHTS WE WILL GET FROM
INCREASING PRODUCTION AND PUT
THAT INTO A TRUST FUND TO ATTACK
THE DEFICITS THAT THIS COUNTRY
HAS AND TAKE THE CAP OFF OUR
PRODUCTION SO WE CAN SUCCEED AS
A COUNTRY.
THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE US GO
DOWN THE APPROACH WHERE THERE IS
NO REAL REWARD FOR CONSERVATION,
ONLY MANDATES.
REPUBLIC OPTION THAT WILL BE
BEFORE THAT IS TO REWARD PEOPLE
FOR THEIR EFFORTS AT PERSONAL
CONSERVATION, WHICH IS WHAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING.
THE DEMOCRAT ROAD WOULD TAKE US
DOWN THE APPROACH WHICH
GOVERNMENT STARTS TELLING PEOPLE
HOW TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.
WE WILL HARKEN BACK TO THE ERA
OF JIMMY CARTER WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT TOLD U HOW FAST TO
DRIVE, HOW WARM YOUR HOUSE CAN
BE AND WHEN YOU CAN BUY
GASOLINE, UNLESS YOU WERE THE
FAMILY WHO HAD ONE ODD AND ONE
EVEN LICENSE PLATE.
THE REPUBLICAN APPROACH IS
DIFFERENT.
IT'S TRYING TO REWARD
INNOVATIONS, GIVING PRIZES FOR
INGENUITY.
THAT THERE IS WITHIN AMERICA THE
SPARK OF CREATIVITY, INGENUITY,
THE ABILITY TO COME UPITH NEW
SOLUTIONS.
WE DON'T NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO
PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS AND TELL
US HOW WE SHOULD LIVE.
OPEN UP THE OPTIONS FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND REWARD THEM FOR
TAKING THE RISKS FOR COMING UP
WITH OPTIONS AND WE CAN CREATE A
BETTER WORLD.
THERE ARE NEW IDEAS OUT THERE,
NEW IDEAS THAT GIVE INCENTIVES
FROM SOLAR TO NEW ALGAE
PRODUCTIONS AND OLD IDEAS THAT
HAVE BEEN AROUND, WHICH HAVE
NEVER BEEN DONE AND THERE ARE
GOING TO BE NEW IDEAS UNTIL WE
ACTUALLY DO AND THERE IS NO TIME
TO DO IT THAN NOW.
THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH IS, WE
CAN'T DO IT, SO WHY TRY.
REPUBLICAN OPTION IS SAYING,
THERE IS LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITY
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE SHOULD DO IT AND WE SHOULD
SIMPLY DO IT NOW.
KIND OF LIKE "THE TALE OF TWO
CITIES," ONE CITY WITH THE
LIGHTS ARE OFF, THE REPUBLICAN
CITY WHERE THE LIGHTS CAN BE
TURNED ON.
A BETTER ONE IS, IF YOU REMBER
THE SEQUEL TO "BACK TO THE
FUTURE," WHERE THERE WITH YOU
TWO OPTIONS WHERE CIVILIZATIONS
COULD DEVELOP.
THE REPUBLICAN WANTS TO TAKE YOU
DOWN WHERE THE MCFLY FAMILY IS
HAPPY AND DEMOCRATS OPTION IS
WHERE ABYSS IS RULING THE WORLD.
WE HAVE A CHOICE.
THE BILL IS BASICALLY ABOUT ALL
THE ENERGY THAT WE CAN CREATE
AND IT SAYS AT THERE IS IN
THIS COUNTRY A BETTER DREAM AND
A BETTER VISION OF WHAT THE
FUTURE CAN BE.
AND THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO TAKE
US DOWN A BETTER ROAD FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE.
BY CREATING A BILL THAT ONCE
AGAIN DOES THREE THINGS.
IT REWARDS AMERICANS FOR EFFORTS
OF CONSERVATION.
THAT'S SOMETHING NO ONE -- WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF
MANDATES, BUT NOT ALLOWING
AMERICANS TO VOLUNTARILY
CONSERVE AND BE REWARDED FOR IT.
AND EVERY GALLON WE CAN CONSERVE
IT'S A GALLON WE DON'T HAVE TO
IMPORT FROM A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T LIKE US.
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
PRODUCTION WE HAVE SO THERE IS
MORE ENERGY, IT IS MORE
AFFORDABLE, IT IS MORE USABLE
AND MORE HELPFUL.
AND THAT CAN BE THE TYPE OF
THING THAT THOSE IN THE LOWER
CLASSES CAN RISE ABOVE THEIR
SITUATIONS.
AND THIRD, REWARD AMERICANS FOR
INNOVATION.
PRIZES FOR INNOVATION HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN THE WAY THE WORLD
HAS MADE QUANTUM LEAPS FORWARD.
WHEN THE BRITISH WERE TRYING TO
BECOME THE MARITIME POWER, THEY
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO MAP THE
WATERS.
THEY OFFERED A 20,000 POUND
REWARD FOR ANYONE WHO COULD
SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND A LONDON
CLOCK MAKER CAME UP WITH THE
CONCEPT WE STILL USE TODAY.
WHEN NAPOLEON NEEDED TO HAVE HIS
TROOPS FED, HE OFFERED A 14,000
FRANC REWARD FOR THE FIRST
PERSON TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEM AND
IT WAS VACUUM PACKING THAT WE
STILL USE TODAY.
WHEN LINDBERG FLEW ACROSS THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN H
TO A PRIZE OFFERED BY A
NEWSPAPER.
THE ABILITY OF AMERICANS TO
SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS AND COME UP
WITH CREATIVITY AND NEW IDEAS
AND NEW SOLUTIONS FAR AND BEYOND
WHAT WE'
DRIVEN BY WASHINGTON.
IT'S BEEN DRIVEN BY ARICANS TO
USE THEIR NATIVE ABILITIES,
EXPAND THE HORIZONS, BE CREATIVE
AND THEN BE REWARDED FOR THAT
KIND OF CREATIVITY.
.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO
POTENTIAL ROADS, ONE THAT LEADS
TO MORE CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT
AND ANOTHER THAT LEADS TO
GREATER INNOVATION AND
ACCEPTANCE AND THE ABILITY FOR
AMERICANS TO DREAM NEW DREAMS AND CREATE NEW VISIONS.
DR. BEGINNING REE WAS TALKING
ABOUT THAT SAME CONCEPT -- DR.
GINGREY WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT
SAME CONCEPT IN THE FIELD OF
HEALTH CARE THAT WE NEED TO
TAKE A LOOK AT -- I THINK THE
WORD WOULD BE, TRYING TO COME
UP WITH A SECOND OPINION OF
WHERE WE SHOULD BE MOVING AND
WHERE WE SHOULD BE DEALING.
I THANK DR. GINGREY FOR
ALLOWING ME TO INTERVENE HERE. THERE'S A NEW ENERGY BILL
THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED. IT'S AN EMERGENCY BILL --
POSITIVE.
IT'S ONE I WANT AMERICANS TO
DEAL WITH BECAUSE THERE IS A
BETTER PATH A BETTER FUTURE FOR
THIS COUNTRY, WE WANT THIS OUT
HERE FOR AN OPTION SO WE
UNDERSTAND IT.
I THINK THE GOOD REPRESENTATIVE
FOR GEORGIA WILL ADMIT THERE'S
GOT BE A BETTER PATH AND
BETTER OPTION, ONE THAT
ENNOBLES AND EMPOWERS
AMERICANS.
I THINK HE'S GOT SOME GREAT
IDEAS ON H TO SKIER THIS --
STEER THIS COUNTRY DOWN THE
CORRECT PATH.
MR. GINGREY: RECLAIMING MY
TIME, AND IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
UTAH CAN STAY WITH US AND
ENGAGE ME IN A COLLOQUY AS WE
CONTINUE THE TIME, TALKING
ABOUT THESE ISSUES, I REALLY,
REALLY APPRECIATE
REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP'S
EXPERTISE ON ENERGY AND OUR
SECOND OPINION, THE REPUBLICAN
ALTERNATIVE, A SECOND OPINION,
FORGIVE ME, MY COLLEAGUES IF I
UTILIZE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY,
BUT IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR ME.
AND AS WE DEVELOPED A CAUCUS ON
OUR SIDE OF THE AISLE AS OUR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MEMBERSHIP
GROWS, I THINK WE HAVE 11
MEDICAL DOCTORS NOW ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, I THINK THERE
ARE FOUR OR FIVE ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE, AND WE HAVE
PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE HAVE
DENTISTS, WE HAVNURSES, WE
HAVE SOME MEDICAL EXPERTISE,
MR. SPEAKER, IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND WE WANT TO UTI
THIS G.O.P. DOCTORS' CAUCUS IS
WORKING VERY HARD TO DEVELOP A
SECOND OPINION ON HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
ROB BISHOP, JOHN SHIMKUS, WHO
LEADS THE COALITION ON A SECOND
OPINION FOR ENERGY REFORM,
MARKET DRIVEN, THESE ARE REPUBLICAN IDEAS.
I GET WEARY WHEN PEOPLE SUGGEST
THAT WE'RE JUST STANDING IN THE
WAY OF PROGRESS AND WHAT'S OUR
PLAN?
THESE ARE OUR PLANS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MR. SPEAKER, AS
I SAID AT THE OUTSET OF THE
HOUR WE DON'T GET MANY, IF ANY,
OPPORTUNITIES UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP, I'M SAD TO SAY, THE
FIRST FEMALE SPEAKER OF THIS
GREAT BODY, SERVING IN HER
SECOND CONGRESS IN THAT
CAPACITY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
THE MOST OPEN OPPORTUNITY TO
GET AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICANS
WHO ALL THEY WANTED TO DO WAS
SHUT THE PLACE DOWN.
WE WERE GOING TO OPEN THE DOORS
AND OPEN THE WINDOWS AND BRING
IN SOME SUNSHINE AND HAVE
TRANSPARENCY AND GIVE EVERYBODY
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT
THEI 675,000 CONSTITUENTS,
WHETHER THEY'RE REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRAT, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE
MINORITY OR THE MAJORITY.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, MR. SPEAKER,
WHAT LED THE SPEAKER, YOU ARE
THE DESIGNATED SPEAKER BUT I
DON'T OW WHAT LED THE SPEAKER
TO CHANGE HER MIND BUT I FOR
ONE AM SADDENED BY IT.
SO WE HAVE TO CONVINCE OUR
COLLEAGUES AND HOPEFULLY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE
OPINIONS.
WE JUST DON'T GET TO EXPRESS
THEM.
WE'RE NOT THE PARTY OF NO.
WE'RE NOT THE PARTY OF NO ON
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
WE'RE NOT THE PARTY OF NO ON
HAVING A BETTER COMPREHENSIVE
ENERGY REFORM BILL.
AND I YIELD BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM UTAH.
MR. BISHOP: IF I COULD JUST
INTERRUPT FOR JUST A SECOND, I
DO HAVE TO LEAVE IN A MOMENT OR
TWO, BUT I THINK YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS
VERY SIGNIFICANT.
THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 950 BILLS
INTRODUCED BY REPUBLICANS SO FAR THIS SESSION.
59 OF THEM HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO
BE DISCUSSED ON THE FLOOR, MOST
OF THEM SUSPENSIONS.
IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE WANTING
FOR IDEAS.
IT'S WE'RE WANTING FOR A
VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY CAN BE
DEBATED AND DISCUSSED AND
PRESENTED TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE. I HAVE ONE OTHER ANALOGY.
I'M -- I'VE GOT GRAYER HAIR
THAN YOU DO, I'M OLDER.
BUT WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP,
REMEMBER THOSE OLD RECORDS YOU
HAD TO BUY?
IF I WANTED A SONG, I HAD TO
BUY THE ENTIRE ALBUM OR THE
ENTIRE EIGHT TRACK, WON'T EVEN
GO HOW FAR BACK THAT HAS TO BE.
MY KIDS, THOUGH HAVE THESE
LITTLE IPODS WHICH I STILL
DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK, BUT IF
THEY WANT A SONG, THEY DON'T
HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE ALBUM
THEY CAN LOAD DOWN THEIR SONG ON THEIR IPOD.
THEY GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
EVERY ASPECT OF AMERICAN LIFE
NOW WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN
AMERICANS -- GIVING AMERICANS
OPTIONS. THE BUSINESS WORLD GIVES
AMERICANS OPTIONS.
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, THE
FRFT IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE
WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT A ONE
SIZE FITS ALL MANDATE ON
PEOPLE.
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS
GIVING AMERICANS CHOICES AND
ALLOWING AMERICANS TO CHOOSE
FOR THEMSELVES HOW THEY WISH TO
LIVE THEIR LIVES.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE, THAT'S THE
REPUBLICAN OPTIOTHAT HAPPENS
TO BE OUT THERE.
THAT'S THE VISION WE ARE TRYING
TO PRESENT.
I APPRECIATE, ESPECIALLY AS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA,
ESPECIALLY WITH HIS EXPERTISE
IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE, HE
RECOGNIZES THIS IS THE SAME
SOLUTION, IS NOT TELLING
AMERICANS HOW TO LIVE, BUT
GIVING THEM OPTIONS AND
ALLOWING AMERICANS TO CHOOSE
THEIR OWN FUTURE.
THEY GET TO BUY THE SONG THEY
WANT AND PUT IT ON THEIR
PERSONAL IPOD.
I APPRECIATE HIM FOR ALLOWING
ME TO JOIN HIM HERE THIS
EVENING AS PART OF THIS HOUR
AND I APPRECIATE MADAM
SPEAKER'S CONSIDERATION AND
TOLERATION IN US TAKING THIS
VISION, ANOTHER ROAD, ANOTHER
OPTION FOR AMERICANS.
WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME.
I RETURN BACK WHAT
HIM.
MR. GINGREY: MADAM SPEAKER, I
APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH JOINING US
THIS EVENING.
IF HE IS GOING TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO HIS
DISTRICT IN UTAH, IT'S NOT
EASY, EVERY WEEK, IT'S PRETTY
EASY FOR ME TO GO HOME, MADAM
SPEAKER ATLANTA, GEORGIA,
MARIETTA AND COBB COUNTY, IT
TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR AND 45
MINUTES.
BUT OUR MEMBERS WEST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI, I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM IN A WAY BECAUSE IT'S
TOUGH.
I WISH HIM GOD SPEED AND A SAFE
TRIP HOME.
WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE DO UNDERSTAND, AND I
THINK OUR MEMBERS DO I THINK
MEMBERS
AISLE DO.
WE'RE NOT ABOVE REPROACH ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE, WHEN WE WERE
IN LEADERSHIP AND CONTROLED
THIS BODY, MAYBE WE WERE
HEAVY-HANDED, MAYBE WE DIDN'T KEEP EVERYTHING OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT AND MAKE AMENDMENTS
IN ORDER FROM THE MINORITY, BUT
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAMPAIGN AND
SAY, AS WE'RE DOING NOW,
PLEASE, GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'VE
LEARNED OUR LESSON.
THAT'S WHAT THE CURRENT
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY SAID WHEN
THEY WERE CAMPAIGNING IN 2006.
YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY.
LET'S THROW THOSE BUMS OUT AND
WE'LL SHOW YOU, JOHN Q. PUBLIC,
WHAT WE CAN IN THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE AND HOW MUCH BETTER IT WILL BE FOR EVERYBODY.
YES, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT
MADAM SPEAKER, IT HASN'T TURNED
OUT THAT WAY.
BUT STILL WE DO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AS REPRESENTATIVE
BISHOP AND I TAKE THIS HOUR AND
TALKBOUT THESE TWO HUGELY
IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND LET
PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A
SECOND OPINION AND I STARTED
THE HOUR TALKING ABOUT THE
FISCAL -- I'M SORRY, THE
PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THE NATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT
ON THE SWINE FLU DISCUSSION.
AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
CAME, AS I YIELDED TIME TO HIM,
MADAM SPEAKER, AND HE TALKED
ABOUT THE FISCAL -- FISCAL --
ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.
OUR COUNTRY CANNOT BE HEALTHY
WITHOUT BOTH FISCAL HEALTH AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
SO YES, THESE ARE HUGELY
IMPORTANT ISSUES AND DON'T
IGNORE THE BRAINPOWER ON THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE JUST FOR
PURELY PARTISAN REASON ARES OR,
WELL, YOU DID IT TO US, WE'RE
GOING TO STICK IT TO YOU.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE NEED AT THE FEDERAL OR
STATE LEVEL.
I HOPE WE CAN GIVE THEM BETTER.
I THINK MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES
FEEL THE SAME WAY.
THIS ISSUE, AND I'LL STAY ON
THE ENERGY SIDE FOR A FEW
MINUTES, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
ISSUE IN THE ENERGY BILL THAT'S
COMING THROUGH THE COMM
COMMITTEE WHICH I'M HONORED TO
SERVE ON UNDER CHAIRMAN WAXMAN
AND RANKING MEMBER BARTON,
ENERGY AND COMMERCE, THIS
ENERGY BILL THAT HAS THIS
STRONG EMPHASIS ON A CARBON TAX
OR CAP AND TRADE, YOU MIGHT
CALL IT, REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT
ULTIMATELY WILL END UP BEING A
HIDDEN TAX, A HIDDEN TAX ON
MOSTLY MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS,
LOWER INCOME AMERICANS WOULD
BE, AS HE POINTED OUT, HIT HARD
.
FOR RICH PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE AN
INCONVENIENCE.
FOR PEOPLE WITH MARGINAL
INCOMES, IT WILL BE
DEVASTATING.
IT'S UP TO $3,000 A FAMILY
BECAUSE AS THESE PRODUCERS OF
ELECTRICITY ARE PENALIZED
BECAUSE THEY'RE PRODUCING TOO
MUCH CARBON OR RELEASING TOO
MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE, THEN THEY'LL PASS
THOSE COSTS RIGHT ON TO THE
CONSUMER TO JOHN Q. PUBLIC.
LISTEN, MADAM SPEAKER, I WAS AT
A BREAKFAST THIS MORNING AND WE
WERE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE, I
GUESS THERE WERE MAYBE 25 HOUSE
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, BUT A
DOCTOR, A PH.D. DOCTOR, FROM
SPAIN, HIS NAME, GABRIELLE
CALZARRA, TALKED TO US, HE'S AN
ASSOCIATE PROFTSOR OF APPLIED
ECONOMICS AT THE KING JUAN
CARLOS UNIVERSITY IN MADRID HE
TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS CAP AND
TRADE, CAP AND TAX,
THE KYOTO PROTOCOL OF 1991 TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE
LETTER, THAT'S WHAT SPAIN HAS
DONE.
THEIR CURRENT PRESIDENT WAS --
IS DETERMINED TO -- FOR SPAIN
TO BE THE POSTER CHILD FOR
ABIDING BY THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.
AND THEY DO.
THIS PROFESSOR, IS PH.D.
DOCTOR, TOLD US IT'S AN
ECONOMIC DISASTER IN SPAIN.
THEY ARE LOSING JOBS, THAT
THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE
TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY WITH ALTEATIVE SOURCES SUCH AS
WIND AND SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL
AND -- THEY'RE LOSING MONEY,
MANY OF THEM ARE GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS AND ALSO, A LOT OF THE
FACTORIES IN SPAIN THAT PRODUCE
THINGS, BUT THEY CAN ONLY
PRODUCE THESE THINGS BY USING
ELECTRICITY TO KEEP THE LIGHTS
ON AND KEEP THE TURBINES OR THE
ROBOTICS RUNNING, THE MACHINES
RUN, THE WORKERS WORKING,
THEY'RE PACKING UP SHOP AND
GOING TO OTHER COUNTRIES IN
THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY.
HE ACTUALLY DESCRIBED, NOW
WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ALL
THESE GREEN JOBS THAT THIS IS
GOING TO CREATE.
WELL HE SAID IN SPAIN THEY CALL
THOSE JOBS SUBPRIME.
MADAM SPEAKER.
I REPEAT THEY CALL THOSE
SUBPRIME JOBS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LAST VERY
LONG.
THEY'RE NOT LASTING VERY LONG.
WE'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE
CHAIRMAN WAXMAN D CHAIRMAN
MARKEY WANT A BILL WHERE EVERY
PART OF THIS COUNTRY HAS TO
ABIDE BY THESE RENEWABLE
STANDARDS SO THAT 25% OF YOUR
ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION BY
THE YEAR 2025, THINK 25 BY 25.
25% HAS TO BE PRODUD BY
RENEWABLES.
WIND, SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL.
BUT GUESS WHAT?
IN MY BELOVED AREA OF THE
UNITED STATES, IN THE
SOUTHEAST, WE DON'T HAVE A
CONSTANT SOURCE OF WIND.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CONSTANT
SOURCE OF SUN.
WE HAVE VERY LITTLE GEOTHERMAL.
BUT YOU OW WHAT WE DO HAVE?
WE HAVE LOTS OF COAL.
WE HAVE LOTS OF WATER.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE,
TO TURN THESE TURBANS AND
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY BY JUST
LETTING WATER FALL AND WE PUMP
IT BACK UPHILL AND LET IT FALL AGAIN.
IF THAT'S NOT RENEWABLE, I GUESS
SOME OF IT EVAPORATES, BUT SEEMS
PRETTY RENEWABLE TO ME.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COUNT NUCLEAR
POWER.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEW NUCLEAR
REACTOR GO ONLINE, MADAM
SPEAKER, SINCE 1976.
AND IT IS CLEAN, IT IS EFFICIENT
AND IT IS SAFE.
IT'S EXPENSIVE.
YES, IT'S EXPENSIVE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THESE NATIONS,
THESE ROGUE NATIONS, I'LL CALL
THEM, OR NEAR-ROGUE NATIONS,
EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ROGUE
NATIONS, THEY DON'T LIKE US VERY
MUCH, CHARGING US $140 A BARREL
FOR PETROLEUM AND STRANGLING US
WITH THE COST OF NATURAL GAS,
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BECOME
INDEPENDENT OF THAT.
BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT IF YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO BURN
COAL AND IN THE UNITED STATES I
THINK WE HAD SOMETHING LIKE
240,000 TONS, ENOUGH COAL TO
LAST US 150 YEARS.
AND WHAT THESE FOLKS -- AND I
THINK IT'S MISGUIDED.
I KNOW THEY'RE SMART PEOPLE BUT
I THINK THEY'RE MISGUIDED.
TO SHUT ALL THAT DOWN JUST
BECAUSE THE GREEN PEACE FOLKS
AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS RUN AMOK,
JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS
GLOBAL ECONOMY AND HOW YOU LOSE
JOBS AND YOU HAVE COUNTRIES LIKE
CHINA AND INDIA WITH ALMOST
THREE BILLION PEOPLE, ALMOST
HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION,
THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT
TO.
AND THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THE
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT ONCE A WEEK.
A NEW ONE EVERY WEEK.
AND YET WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT
WE'RE DOING.
IT DOESN'T -- IT JUST DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE.
I HAVE TALKED TO THE COMMITTEE,
TO THE POWERS THAT BE, AND EXPLAINED, YOU KNOW, THE
SITUATION WE'VE GOT IN THE
SOUTHEAST.
AND SOMETIMES IT MAKES YOU
WONDER, MADAM SPEAKER, IF, YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU USE THE WORD
BUT THAT WORD ALSO CAN BE
INTERPRETED AS A REAL SCHEME,
LIKE SOMEBODY'S SCHEMING.
YOU KNOW, LOTS OF JOBS CAME TO
MY PART OF THE UNITED STATES
ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO.
WE HAD TEXTILE PLANTS
EVERYWHERE.
WHERE WAS THE CORPORATE OFFICE
OF THOSE PLANS
NEW YORK CITY.
BUT THEY CAME SOUTH -- PLANTS?
NEW YORK CITY.
BUT THEY CAME SOUTH.
FOR ONE REASON.
EX INEXPENSIVE LABOR.
THEY COULD MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS
AND MAKE THE PROFIT AND PAY WELL
AND TIMES WERE GOOD.
MY DAD WAS BORN IN GRANITEVILLE,
SOUTH CAROLINA.
BUILT BY THE GRANITEVILLE
COMPANY.
A COMPANY FROM NEW YORK TRADED
ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE.
AND THAT COMPANY BUILT
EVERYTHING IN TOWN AND EMPLOYED
EVERY WORKER IN TOUNL.
WELL, THOSE JOBS CAME FROM THE
-- TOWN.
WELL, THOSE JOBS CAME FROM THE
NORTHEAST.
NOW, IF YOU WE -- IF WE FOLLOW
THROUGH AND PENALIZE, THEN THESE
FACTORIES WILL SAY, WELL, WE'LL
JUST STAY UP NORTH WITH ALL
THESE EXPENSIVE UNION WORKERS
BECAUSE IF WE GO DOWN SOUTH
WE'LL GET CHEAPER LABOR, BUT
WE'LL HAVE TO PAY OUT THE WAZOO
FOR ELECTRICITY.
SAME THING WITH CALIFORNIA.
SO, I WOULD SAY TO ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY
LISTENING AND MEN AND WOMEN
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THEY ARE
CONNECTING THE DOTS.
THEY'RE FIGURING THIS THING OUT.
THEY'RE INDEED, IN MY OPINION,
MADAM SPEAKER, -- THERE INDEED,
IN MY OPINION, MADAM SPEAKER, IS
A SCHEME GOING ON HERE AND IT
MAKES NO SENSE.
IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ANY TIME,
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME OF SEVERE
ECONOMIC RECESSION.
POINT NOW OF HOPING AND PRAILING
THAT WE'LL COME OUT OF IT --
PRAYING THAT WE'LL COME OUT OF
IT.
BAIL OUT THIS ONE, BAIL OUT THAT ONE.
STIMULATE THIS, STIMULATE THAT.
BUT WHEN WE GO BACK HOME, MR.
BISHOP TO UTAH, ME TO GEORGIA,
AND YOU START TALKING TO PEOPLE
AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR
HOME AND THE BANKS ARE ABOUT TO
CLOSE, SMALL COMMUNITY BANKS AND
THEY'RE SAYING, CONGRESSMAN
GINGREY, WHY COULDN'T YOU GET ME
HE ANY OF THAT TARP MONEY?
WE MADE LOANS TO BUILDERS
BECAUSE WE WERE LITERALLY FORCED
TO BY THE HOMEOWNERS
REINVESTMENT ACT OR WHAT FANNIE
AND FREDDIE FORCED US TO DO
BECAUSE WANTING MORE
DIVERSEFICATION IN HOME
OWNERSHIP, WE KNEW THAT YOU
DON'T LEND MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT
CAN'T VERIFY THAT THEY'VE GOT A
JOB OR WHAT THEIR INCOME IS AND
THEY HAVE NO DOWN PAYMENT AND
THEIR ANNUAL SALARY IS $50,000
AND THEY WANT TO GET A LOAN ON A
$600,000 HOUSE AND IT SHOULD BE
NO MORE THAN ONE TO THREE BUT WE
WERE LITERALLY FORCED TO MAKE
THESE LOANS AND NOW WE ARE BEING
TOO YOU UNDERSTAND -- WE ARE
ABOUT TO GO UNDER.
ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO INVESTED IN
THE BANK AND THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY, THEY'RE ABOUT TO LOSE
THEIR INVESTMENT. WHERE'S OUR HELP FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
NO, WE FORCED THE BILL BANKS TO
TAKE MONEY AND THEY WON'T EVEN
LET THEM GIVE THE MONEY BACK.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I CALL
SOCIALIZATION.
SOCIALISM.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME
WE'VE GOT BUT I'M GOING TO MAYBE
UTILIZE A FEW MORE MINUTES,
MADAM SPEAKER, IF YOU NEED TO
GAVEL ME DOWN, YOU GO RIGHT
AHEAD, AND I'LL JUST SHUT UP
IMMEDIATELY, BUT I'M GOING TO
SWITCHBACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE
HEALTH CARE PART NOW -- SWITCH
BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE HEALTH
CARE PART NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT
SOCIALIZED.
I DON'T THINK MEN AND WOMEN WANT THE GOVERNMENT --
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. GINGREY: STAND IN BETWEEN
THE DOCTOR AND THE PATIENT.
AND SOUNDS LIKE THE GOOD SPEAKER
IS LETTING ME KNOW TH WE HAVE
THE MAGIC HOUR HAS EXPIRED --
LET ME KNOW -- THAT THE MAGIC
HOUR HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE,
MY COLLEAGUES, AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT
REPUBLICANS' SECOND OPINION ON
MANY ISSUES AND I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS RISE?
MS. J
CONSENT TO SPEAK OUT OF ORDER
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: NO
OBJECTION.
MS. JACKSON LEE: ALLOW ME TO THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
GENTLEMEN FOR HIS KIND --
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS KINDNESS AND,
MADAM SPEAKER, THANK YOU S
MUCH.
I DID WANT TO LEAVE AN
TO MY DISTRICT WITHOUT
ACKNOWLEDGING HOW HUMBLED
AMERICA IS IN HONORING THE
NATION'S MOTHERS.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO
SET ASIDE A DAY TO HONOR OUR
MOTHERS AND TO HONOR OUR
FATHERS.
AND SO THIS WEEKEND IS A
NATIONALLY DECLARED DAY TO
CELEBRATE MOTHERHOOD.
AND I RISE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO
CELEBRATE THE MOTHERS ALL OVER
THIS NATION WHO LINK ARMS WITH
THOSE AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE
IN FACT SPECIAL.
FOR MOTHERS ARE IN FACT THE
NURTURERS AND CARE GIVERS THAT
PREPARE OUR NATION'S YOUNG FOR
THE CHALLENGES THAT LIFE MAY
HOLD.
THAT WORK MAY BE INSIDE OR
OUTSIDE OF THE HOME OR BOTH AND
THEIR KKSES -- CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THIS SOCIETY CAN NEVER BE FULLY
APPRECIATED OR VALUED.
JAMES DEFINITELY HIT THE NEEDLE
ON THE HEAD WHEN SHE SAID THE
PHRASE, WORKING MOTHER IS
REDUNDANT.
FOR OBVIOUSLY A MOM, A MOMMY, A
MOTHER, WORKS.
IN THIS DAY AND TI, WE FIND
THAT MOTHERS COME IN MANY SHAPES
AND SIZES.
TODAY OUR FIRST LADY SPOKE
ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES
OF BEING A WORKING MOTHER. BUT AS WE HAVE COME TO
UNDERSTAND, A MOM WORKS AT HOME,
SHE WORKS IN THE WORKPLACE,
SHE'S A VOLUNTEER, SHE DOES MANY
THINGS THAT CONSTITUTE WORK BUT
ARE HER DAILY DUTIES.
OUR MOTHERS ARE OUR FIRST
TEACHERS AND THEY SHOULD BE
CELEBRATED EVERYDAY.
HOWEVER, LIKE MANY THING,
SOMETIMES WE TAKE THIS
MOTHERHOOD FOR GRANTED.
YES, WE SOMETIMES HAVE TEENAGE
MOTHERS OR GRANDMOTHERS AS
MOTHERS, NURTURING CHILDREN OF
THEIR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE ALING MOTHERS.
WE HAVE MOTHERS WHO HAVE PASSED.
AND THERE WILL BE MANY IN OUR
NATION WHO WILL BE CELEBRATING
OR COMMEMORATING MOTHER'S DAY
WORLD TRADE CENTER THAT YOU ARE
-- WITHOUT THEIR BELOVED MOM.
THEY'LL BE MOURNING THE LOSS,
MAYBE THEY'LL BE AT GRAVESITES
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY TO THEM IS
THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES.
I WANT THE FACT THAT THIS IS
MOTHER'S DAY TO HAVE US REMEMBER
THAT BEING A MOM IS NOT EASY.
MOTHERHOOD IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO
MIGHT WANT TO GIVE UP, BUT MANY
TIMES IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
CIRCLE OUR MOMS, GIVE THEM THE
STRENGTH TO BE ABLE TO CARRY ON,
BE REMINDED THAT IN ADDITION TO
MAKING DINNERER, THEY'RE DOING
BEDTIME STORIES.
MAYBE THERE ARE MOTHERS WHO
DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY, DON'T
HAVE THE TIME, ARE NOT ABLE TO
GET HOME BEFORE 12:00 MIDNIGHT,
WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT, WORK
AROUND THE CLOCK, WE SHOULD BE
SYMPATHETIC TO THEM.
I'M PROUD THAT THIS CONGRESS HAS
RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF
MOTHERS, ONE OF THE FIRST BILL
THAT WE SIGNED WAS THE EQUAL PAY
BILL.
WE ALSO PROVIDED AND SIGNED THE
CHIPS BILL THAT PROVIDED FOR 11
MILLION MORE CHILDREN TO HAVE
HEALTH CARE.
THAT HELPS THE MOTHERS OF
AMERICA.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT 47
MILLION AMERICANS ARE UNINSURED.
MANY OF THEM ARE MOTHERS WITH
YOUNG CHILDREN.
MANY OF THEM ARE MOTHERS WITH
AILMENTS WHO HAVE CATASTROPHIC ILLNESSES OR CHRONIC ILLNESSES.
WE WANT TO SAY TO THEM, THANK
YOU, BY PROVIDING THOSE MOTHERS
WITH FULL COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH
CARE.
WE KNOW THAT MOTHERS ARE CARING
AND COURAGEOUS WOMEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES THEY
TOUCH.
AS A JEWISH PROVERB SAYS, GOD
COULD NOT BE EVERYWHERE AND
THEREFORE HE MADE MOTHERS AND SO
THIS MOTHER'S DAY IS A
CELEBRATION FOR GRANDMOTHERS,
FOSTER MOTHERS, GODMOTHERS,
MOTHERS WHO TAKE IN CHILDREN,
MOTHERS OF ALL ETHNICITIES, ALL
BACKGROUNDS, ALL ECONOMIC
LEVELS. WE ARE TO CELEBRATE THEM.
TODAY THOUSANDS OF MOTHERS IN
THIS COUNTRY HAVE BECOME ACTIVE
AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATES IN
PUBLIC LIFE AND PUBLIC
CERTIFICATE SERVICE, PROMOTING
CHANGE AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY
OF LIFE FOR MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
I CANNOT FIND THE WORDS TO THANK
ALL OF THESE MOTHERS WHO MAYBE
LEGISLATORS, -- MAY BE
LEGISLATORS, LAWYERS, AND I ALSO
THANK THOSE MOTHERS WHO ARE
WAITRESSES, WHO ARE NURSE'S
AIDS, WHO DRIVE BUSES, WHO ARE
OUT ON THE CONSTCTION SITES,
WHO ARE POETS, WHO ARE AUTHORS.
THEY'RE ALL PART OF OUR LIFE.
WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO MY OWN
MOTHER, STRONG,
ELDERLY AND FRAIL NOW. BUT HAVING RAISED US, I THANK
HER FOR THE INTEGRITY AND THE
DETERMINATION AND THE SPIRIT AND
THE LOVE SHE GAVE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY GRANDMOTHERS
, MY AUNTS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY AUNT SARA,
I'M GRATEF FOR THE EXTENDED
FAMILY MEMBERS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FUTURE
MOTHERS, MY DAUGHTER, ERICA LEE,
AND SO I AM THANKFUL TODAY THAT
TRUEST FRIEND WE HAVE WHEN
TRIALS ARE HEAVY AND SUDDEN AND
FALL UPON US WHEN ADVERSITY
TAKES THE PLACE OF PROSPERITY,
WHEN FRIENDS WHO REJOICE WITH US
AT OUR SUNSHINE DESSERT US, WHEN
TROUBLE THICKENS AROUND US,
STILL WILL SHE CLING TO US.
AND ENAVOR BY HER PREACCEPTS
AND COUNSELS TO DISSIPATE THE
CLOUDS OF DARKNESS AND CAUSE
PEACE TO RETURN TO OUR HEARTS.
A MOTHER IS THE TRUEST FRIEND
AND WE NO THAT THROUGH AN
AMERICAN AUTHOR, WASHINGTON
ERVIN.
AND TODAY, AS I FINISH MY
REMARKS, I WANT TO PARTICULARLY
SAY TO THOSE MOTHERS WHO MAY BE
LISTENING TO, TO OUR COLLEAGUES
WHO ARE LIKEWISE MOTHERS, TO THE
IAN PACIFIC MOTHERS AS WE
CELEBRATE ASIAN PACIFIC MONTH, WHEREVER THEY MIGHT BE, WE WANT
GIVE THEM A HELPING HANDLE.
AND THROUGH A MOTHER, I WANT TO
BE ABLE TO SAY, I WANT NO CHILD
TO EVER GO AHEAD HUNGRY.
WE WANT NO CHILD TO EVER NOT
HAVE AN EDUCATION AND WE WANT
YOU TO HAVE THE FULLEST
OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE CHILDREN TO
BE HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. MS. JACKSON LEE: I CLOSE BY
SAYING SIMPLY THIS, IF YOU
BUNGLE RAISING YOUR CHILDREN, I
DON'T THINK WHATEVER ELSE YOU DO
WELL MATTERS
WE WANT OUR MOTHERS NOT TO
BUNGLE.
GOD BLESS THEM AND GOD BLESS
AMERICA.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 6, 2009, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM AMERICAN SAMOA, MR. FILETOW
MA VEGA FOR 60 MINUTES.
FALFAL THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO EXTEND AND REVISE MY
REMARKS.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY ON
BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY GOOD
FRIEND AND COLLEAG, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, AS WE HAVE
INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION
CONDEMNING THE TRANSPORT OF
CERTAIN TYPES OF NUCLEAR WASTE
COMMONLY KNOWN AS MIX OXIDE FUEL
CONTAINING PLUTONIUM AND URANIUM
THROUGH INTERNATIONAL WATERS AND
WE URGE THE COUNTRIES THAT
PRODUCE THE
NUCLEAR WASTE WITHIN THEIR
BORDERS.
MADAM SPEAKER, LAST MONTH TWO
BRITISH FLAG VESSELS LEFT FRANCE
WITH 1.8 TONS OF PLUTONIUM BOUND
FOR JAPAN.
THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE IN
PORT AT SOME POINT THIS MONTH.
FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC,
THE SHIPMENT IS TO TRAVEL VIA
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AROUND
THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN, THEN
THROUGH ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
AS IT MAINIAN SEA, THROUGH
AUSTRAA AND NEW ZEALAND AND
THEN THROUGH THE WEST-SOUTHWEST
PACIFIC OCEAN AND FINALLY TO
JAPAN.
THE PLUTONIUM ITSELF IS
CONTAINED WITHIN WHAT IS
COMMONLY KNOWN AS MOCX FUEL.
A TOXIC MIXTURE OF PLUTONIUM AND
URANIUM OXIDE.
THE MOX -- THE M.O.X. WILL BE
USED BY JAPANESE ELECTRIC
UTILITIES TO POWER THEIR ENERGY
-- NUCLEAR ENERGY PLAPTS.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE MIXED OX
SIDE FUEL IS LEGAL.
THE RELEASE OF EVEN A SMALL
AMOUNT OF IT DURING TRANSPORT
OVER THOUSANDS OF MILES OF OPEN
SEA, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF
ACCIDENTS OR MALICIOUS INTENT,
WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
ECONOMIC HARM TO SURROUNDING
AREAS.
THAT MUCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MADE
EAR.
BUT THE M.O.X. POSES A FAR MORE
OMINOUS THREAT.
WITH THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY, IT
CAN BE REPROCESSED INTO
WEAPONS-GRADE MATERIAL. ACCORDING TO REPUTABLE
ESTIMATES, ENOUGH PLUTONIUM IS
CONTAINED IN THE M.O.X.
CURRENTLY HEADED TOWARD JAPAN
TO PRODUCE MORE THAN 200
NUCLEAR BOMBS.
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CHAMBER,
MADAM SPEAKER, KNOWS THAT AL
QAEDA AND ITS NETWORKS WOULD
LI NOTHING BETTER THAN TO GET
THEIR HANDS ON ENOUGH MATERIAL
TO BUILD A NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE
DEVICE, A RADIOLOGICAL BOMB,
HOWEVER CRUDE TO DETONATE IT
WHERE IT CAN DO THE MOST HARM.
WE AND OUR ALLIES AROUND THE
WORLD HAVE COMMITTED OUR BEST
INTELLIG
CIVILIAN OFFICIALS, TO WORK
AROUND THE CLOCK TO ELIMINATE
THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT EVER
HAPPENING.
AND YET,Y PERMITTING THE
TRANSPORT OF M.O.X. OVER OPEN
SEAS, OBVIOUSLY WE ARE
PROVIDING TERRORISTS ONE MORE
AVENUE OF ATTACK FOR GETTING
ACCESS TO THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS
THEY HAVE SO LONG COVETED.
INDEED, THE O.E.X. -- THE OECD
NUCLEAR ENERGY AGENCY SAID THAT
THE RISK OF HIJACKING A SHIP
CARRYING NUCLEAR MATERIALS,
WHILE SMALL, COULD NOT BE RULED
OUT.
MADAM SPEAKER, PRIVATE --
PIRACY HAS BECOME AN OBVIOUS
PROBLEM AROUND THE GLOBE.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, JUST IN THE
WATERS OF SOMALIA ALONE,
PIRATES HAVE ATTACKED 61 SHIPS.
MORE THAN A DOZEN OF THOSE
VESSELS REMAIN IN THE PIRATES'
HANDS TO THIS VERY DAY.
ONE OF THEM, THE UKRAINIAN
CARGO SHIP, ACTUALLY CONTAINED
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
33 BATTLE TANKS.
MADAM SPEAKER, I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT EVERYONE HERE REMEMBERS
THE HIJACKING OF THE ALABAMA
OFF THE SO MA'AMA COAST AND THE
HEROIC ACTIONS OF THE CAPTAIN
AND HIS CREW.
IT WAS CAPTURED BY FOUR IS A SO
MALLI PIRATES ON -- SO MAUL LEE
PIRATES ON APRIL -- SEW MAUL
LEE PIRES ON APRIL 8, THE
CAPTAIN SURRENDERED AND ENDED
UP IN A LIFEBOAT WITH THE
PIRATES FOR FOUR DAYS.
THANKFULLY, CAPTAIN RICHARD
PHILLIPS WAS RESCUED ON APRIL
12.
OUR -- BUT OUR NAVY SEALS HAD
TO JUSTIFIABLY KILL THREE OF
HIS TAKERS.
PIRATES HAVE ISSUED THREATS TO
TARG
THIS JE REGION.
MADAM SPEAKER WE KNOW IT
DOESN'T COST MUCH TO HIRE A
BAND OF SOMALI PIRATES A
ARE NOT PARTICULARLY FUSSY
ABOUT THEIR CLIENTELE.
NOT SAIL OVER SOMALIAN WATERS
THEY WILL LIKELY PASS THROUGH
THE STRAITS OF MARACCA, THE
VITAL LINK BETWEEN THE INDIAN
AN PACIFIC OCEANS.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THOSE
STRAITS ARE PLIED WITH THEIR
OWN BANDS OF PIRATES.
INDEED, ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU,
THESE AND NEARBY WATERS HAVE
BEEN RANKED THE WORLD'S MOST
DANGEROUS SEA ROUTES.
IN THE YEAR 2004, 40% OF ALL
PIRATE ATTACKS IN THE WORLD
TOOK PLACE IN THOSE STRAITS AND
NEARBY INDONESIAN WATERS.
TERRORISTS NEED NOT HIRE
PIRATES TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK.
IN 2002, AL QAEDA OPERATIVES
RAMMED A BOAT RIGGED WITH
EXPLOSIVES INTO A FRENCH BOAT
OFF THE COAST OF YEMEN.
THE TWO SHIPS TRANSRTING THE
NUCLEAR WASTE ARE NOT WITHOUT
PROTECTION.
THEY ARE ARMED WITH FIVE 30
MILLIMETER NAVAL CANNONS.
IN ADDITION A GROUP OF ARMED
POLICE OFFICERS FROM THE UNITED
KINGDOM OFFICE OF CIVIL NUCLEAR
SECURITY IS ON BOARD.
HOWEVER A UDY DONE BY THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
CONCLUDES THAT DUE TO THE RISK
OF ATTACK OF NUCLEAR SHIPMENTS,
THERE'S A NEED TO PROVIDE
CONTINUOUS BACKUP SUPPORT FOR
THE VESSEL BY MILITARY SECURITY
ASSETS.
IN 1992 A SHIPMENT OF 1.7 TONS
OF M.O.X. NUCLEAR MATERIAL FROM
FRANCE TO JAPAN WAS ESCORTED BY
A JAPANESE COAST GUARD VESSEL.
THIS TIME, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
KNOW WHAT SORT OF VESSEL ARE
ESCORTING THESE SHIPS.
THE PENTAGON CONCLUDED IN ITS
OWN ASSESSMENT OF SEA SHIPMENTS
OF PLUTONIUM THAT, AND I QUOTE,
EVEN IF THE MOST CAREFUL
PRECAUTIONS ARE OBSERVED, NO
ONE CAN GUAR
HAVE TO THE CARGO FROM A
SECURITY INCIDENT SUCH AS AN
ATTACK ON THE VESSEL BY SMALL,
ST CRAFT, ESPECIALLY ARMED
WITH MODERN ANTI-SHIP MISSILES,
END QUOTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, THUS THE
TRANSPORT OF THIS NUCLEAR WASTE
POSES NOT ONLY THE
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD WE HAVE
LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT
ALSO A NONTRIVIAL TERRORIST OR
EVEN NUCLEAR DANGER AS WELL.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, IS THE
PRACTICE OF TRANSPORTING THESE
MATERIALS, NUCLEAR WASTE
MATERIALS, ACROSS INTERNATIONAL
WATERS WORTH THE RISK?
I SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT.
IT
THE WORLD THROUGH THE UNITED
NATIONS OR COUNTRIES THAT
PRODUCE NUCLEAR WASTE SHOULD
KEEP IT WITHIN THEIR OWN
BORDERS.
THAT WOULD BE A FIRST STEP.
MADAM SPEAKER, MAKE NO MISTAKE,
TRANSPORT OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
EVEN WITHIN A COUNTRY'S BORDERS
POSES SERIOUS RISKS. NUCLEAR FUEL IS DANGEROUS
STUFF.
ACCORDING TO THE NUCLEAR
INFORMATION AND RESEARCH
SERVICE, AND I QUOTE A PERSON
STANDING THREE FEET FROM
UNSHIELDEDRRADIATED FUEL WILL
RECEIVE A LETHAL RADIATION DOSE
IN 10 SECONDS.
END OF QUOTE.
PLFER, THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS
IN WHICH RADIOACTIVE WASTE ARE
TRANSPORTED OVERLAND ARE
DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND AT MOST A
30-MILE-PER-HOUR CRASH INTO AN
IMMOVABLE OBJECT.
I'M SURE EVERY MEMBER OF THIS
CHAMBER STUDIOUSLY OBEYS THE
SPEED LIMITS BUT I'M NOT AWARE
OF TOO MANY HIGHWAYS WITH A
SPEED LIMIT OF 30 MILES PER
HOUR.
WHAT I FIND PARTICULARLY
DISCONCERTING IS THE NUCLEAR
REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS NOT
TESTED THESE SHIPPING TASKS.
INSTEAD, THEY RELY ON THE
RELIAB
SIMULATIONS.
A NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND
RESEARCH SERVICE FACT SHEELT
ALSO STATES, AND I QUOTE, THE
MORE SEVERE AN ACCIDENT, THE
MORE LIKELY AT RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL WOULD BE RELEASED INTO
THE ENVIRONMENT.
A LOW-SPEED ACCIDENT COULD
UNSEAT A OR DAMAGE A SEAL, -- A
VALVE OR DAMAGE A SEAL,
RELEASING PARTICULATES INTO THE
ENVIRONMENT, IT COULD CRACK THE
BRITTLE METAL AROUND THE FUEL.
END OF QUOTE.
IN RESPONSE TO A BALTIMORE RAIL
ACCIDENT INVOLVING DANGEROUS
CHEMICAL, OUR SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER, HARRY REID OF NEVADA,
AND I QUOTE, HE SAID, EVERYONE
NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT TRANSPORTING DANGEROUS
MATERIALS IS VERY DIFFICULT.
THE LEAKING HYDROCHLORIC ACID
IN BALTIMORE IS NOTHING
COMPARED TO THE HIGH-LEVEL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE OPOSED FOR
THE YOU KA MOUNTAINS SITE 100
MILES NORTHWEST OF LAS VEGAS.
A SPECK THE SIZE OF A PINPOINT WOULD KILL A PERSON.
WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH NUCLEAR
WASTE IS LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS.
MADAM SPEAKER, EVEN JUST WITHIN
OUR OWN DOMESTIC BORDERS, WE'VE
BEEN A -- WE'VE BECOME A DEEPLY
DIVIDED NATION CONCERNING THE STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WASTE
MATERIALS WITHIN OUR OWN
COUNTRY.
YEARS AGO, IN ITS SO-CALLED
INFINITE WISDOM, CONGRESS
DECIDED TO BUILD A MULTIBILLION
DOLLAR STORAGE FACILITY AT YOU
KA MOUNTAIN IN THE STATE OF --
AT YUCCA MOUNTAIN IN THE STATE
OF NEVADA.
UNFORTUNATELY, WERE THE
RESIDENTS OF NEVADA EVER GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY
IN THE PROCESS DESPITE STRONG
OBJECTIONS FROM ITS DELEGATION?
IF I WERE A RESIDENT OF NEVADA,
I WOULD OBJECT TO THE WHOLE
IDEA OF OTHER STATES SHIPPING
THEIR NUCLEAR WASTE MATERIALS
IN MY BACKYARD.
THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO
MIND, MADAM SPEAKER WHAT TOWN,
WHAT CITY, WHAT RURAL FARM
AREAS ARE GOING TO BE USED OR
DESIGNATED FOR SHIPMENTS BY
TRUCK, BY TRAIN, BY CAR, BY
AIRPLANES, WHAT GUARANTEES ARE
THERE THAT THESE SHIPMENTS ARE
NOT GOING TO BE SUBJECTED BY
TERRORIST ATTACKS OR EVEN BY
ACCIDENT.
REMEMBER THE OIL SPILL AT
VALDEZ, ALASKA, MADAM SPEAKER?
EVERYBODY SAID IT WAS
ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO CONDUCT SUCH
SHIPMENTS OF OIL. WELL, IT HAPPENED.
THE SAME THING CAN BE SAID IF
NUCLEAR WASTE MATERIALS WILL BE
SHIPPED TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN IN
THE STATE OF MADAM SPEAKER, I
COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH THE
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY
REID IN HIS CONCERNS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
AND CONGRESSMAN SMITH IN
CALLING TO AN END AND DANGEUS
AND NEEDLESS PRACTICE OF
SHIPPING M.O.X. NUCLEAR WASTE
MATERIAL OTHERS THE OPEN
OCEANS.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
HOUSE RESOLUTION 402.
I YIELD BACK.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
SPOIFL JANUARY 6, 2009, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM IOWA, MR. KING, FOR 60
MINUTES.
MR. KING: THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATE BEING RECOGNIZED
AND JOINING MY COLLEAGUES HERE
REPRESENTATIVES AND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU AND
AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONVEY SOME
THOUGHTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN
MY MIND.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
HEAR.
ONE OF THE PIECES OF SUBJECT
MATTER THAT'S BEEN VERY LITTLE
DEBATED IN THIS CONGRESS, AT
LEAST IN THIS NEW 111TH
CONGRESS, AND WAS NOT DEBATED
IN ANY KIND OF DEPTH WHATSOEVER
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AFTER
THE NOMINATIONS CAME FROM EACH,
THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
PARTY IS THE ISSUE OF
IMMIGRATION. AND AS WE MOVE ALONG HERE
COMPLACENTLY, I'M AWARE THAT
THERE ARE PIECES BEING MOVED
BEHIND THE SCENES TO ARRANGE
THE SITUATION SO THAT THIS
CONGRESS COULD POTENTIALLY BE
TAKING UP A, I CALL IT A
COMPREHENSIVE AMNESTY BILL.
AND IF ANYONE DOUBTS WHERE I
STAND, MADAM SPEAKER, I AM
OPPOSED TO AMNESTY.
I'M OPPOSED TO IT IN ALL ITS
FORMS.
I LIVED THROUGH THE AMNESTY
BILL IN 1986, I REVERED RONALD
REAGAN, I STALE DO.
THERE WERE FEW TIMES I
DISAGREED WITH HIM BUT THE DAY
HE SIGNED THE AMNESTY BILL IN
1986 WAS A DAY I DISAGREED.
AT THAT TIME, I WAS OPERATED A
BUSINESS I HAD FOUNDED OVER A
DECADE EARLIER AND WAS
COMPELLED TO COMPLY WITH THE
FEDERAL DIRECTIVE THAT CAME
FROM THE 1986 AMNESTY BILL.
IT WAS THE I.N.S. AT THE TIME,
IMMIGRATION NATURALIZATION
SERVICE THE REQUIREMENT WAS
THIS -- THAT THERE WERE GOING
TO BE ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY
THAT WOULD BE GRANTED AMNESTY.
PRESIDENT REAGAN WAS STRAIT
UP HONEST WITH US HE DID CALL
IT AMNESTY AND IT WAS.
IT WAS AMNESTY FOR ABOUT A
MILLION PEOPLE AS IT WAS
DESCRIBED AND THE TRADEOFF WAS
THIS.
THE CONCLUSION THAT THE
CONGRESS HAD COME TO AND
PRESIDENT REAGAN HAD COME TO
WAS THAT WE COULDN'T ENFORCE
THE LAW EFFECTIVELY ENOUGH TO
CLEAN UP THIS PROBLEM OF THE
PEOPLE ILLEGALLY IN THE UNITED
STATES.
SO BECAUSE WE COULDN'T CLEAN
THAT MESS UP, BY ENFORCING THE
LAW, WE WOULD JUST SOLVE THE
PROBLEM BY LEGALIZING THOSE
MILLION PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE
ILLEGALLY, GRANT THEM A
PERMANENT STATUS HERE IN THE
UNITED STES, GRANDFATHER THEM
IN SO TO SPEAK, BUT FM THAT
POINT FORWARD, MADAM SPEAKER
FROM THE POINT FORWARD THAT
RONALD REAGAN SIGNED THE
AMNESTY BILL OF 1986, THERE WAS
TO BE A MAJOR COMMITMENT ON THE
PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TO ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION
LAWS.
UNDER THE IDEA THAT, IN ORDER
TO PASS AMNESTY OUT OF THIS
CONGRESS THERE NEED TO BE A
COMMITMENT TO, FROM THAT POINT
FORWARD, ENFORCING THE RULE OF
LAW.
AND THE ARGUMENT THAT CAME WAS
THIS -- THAT, WELL, WE CAN'T
MAKE IT WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE A
MILLION PEOPLE HERE, BUT FROM
HERE ON, WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE
THE LAW, WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE
THE LAW AGGRESSIVELY.
SO THE AMNESTY OF 1986 WAS TO
BE THE AMNESTY TO END ALL
AMNESTIES.
PRESIDENT REAGAN SIGNED THE
BILL WITH THAT IN MIND THAT
THERE WOULD BE ENFORCEMENT.
HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DURATION OF
HIS TERMS IN OFFICE THE NEXT
COUPLE OF YEARS TO DO THE
ENFORCEMT.
AND I, SITTING THERE AS AN
EMPLOYER IN 1986 AND THINKING,
A PROMISE TO ENFORCE THE LAW
DOES NOT EQUATE INTO ENFORCING
THE LAW.
BUT I THINK I.N.S. WILL COME IN
AND ENFORCE IT AGAINST ME AS AN
EMPLOYER, SO I COMPLIED WITH
THE LAW BECAUSE, FIRST I
BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW.
I THINK IT'S AN OBLIGATION TO
ADHERE TO THE RULE OF LAW.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LAW, IT
ISN'T SOMETHING THAT AMERICANS
SHOULD BE DOING AS IGNORING IT.
WE SHOULD COMPLY WITH IT, BUT
IF WE DON'T LIKE IT, WE SHOULD
SET ABOUT TRYING TO CHANGE IT.
THAT'S THE PROCESS, THAT'S THE
WAY TO DO IT, MADAM SPEAKER.
I AGREED WITH THE COMPONENT OF
IT, THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE.
SO WHEN WE JOB -- WHEN WE HAD
JOB APPLICANTS COME INTO MY
OFFICE, I TOOK A COPY OF THEIR
DELINES, I TOOK THEIR OTHER DAY
TARK I BROUGHT OUT THE I-9 FILE
AND HAD THEM FILL OUT AN I-9
FORM AND WE TOOK THE COPIES OF
THEIR IDENTIFICATION MATERIAL
AND WE ATTACHED IT TO THE I-9
FORM AND PUT THAT IN A FILE,
AND TO THIS DAY, I'M NOT SURE I
CAN, BUT I THINK I COULD GO
BACK AND FIND SOME OF THOSE
ORIGINAL RECORDS, HOWEVER DUSTY THEY MIGHT BE.
I KEPT THOSE RECORDS, I KEPT IT
RIGHT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN THE
RULE OF LAW, I BELIEVED IN THE
FEDERAL LAW, I BELIEVED THAT
GOVERNMENT, WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TOLD AMERICANS AND
THAT MEANS THOSE WHO ARE HERE
LEGALLY AND ILLEGALLY AND THOSE
WHO MIGHT COME HERE, THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO ENFORCE
IMMIGRATION LAW TO THE LETTER,
I BELIEVED THEM.
AND I ADHERETO THAT
IMMIGRATION LAW TO THE LETTER.
BUT SINCE THAT TIME, THE
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WAS,
I'LL SAY, AS HIGH THEN FROM A
CONCENTRATED BASIS, AS IT HAS
BEEN SINCE.
AND SINCE 1986 THE ENFORCEMENT
OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAW HAS
DIMINISH OTHER THAT -- OTHER
THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
I THINK IT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE
UNDER RONALD REAGAN THAN IT WAS
UNDER THE FIRST GEORGE BUSH.
I THINK IT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE
UNDER THE FIRST GEORGE BUSH THAN
IT WAS UNDER BILCLINTON AND I
THINK IT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE
UNDER BILL CLINTON THAN IT WAS
UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH AS
PRESIDENT, MADAM SPEAKER.
AND I THINK GEORGE W. BUSH'S
ENFORCEMENT AT THIS POINT HAS
BEEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN IT HAS
BEEN UNDER THIS CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT
OBAMA, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY, JANET NAPOLITANO.
I THINK IF WOULD YOU GRAPH ON A
CHART THE WORK SITE RAIDS, THE
ACTUAL INTERDICTION OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE UNLAWFULLY IN THE
UNITED STATES, THE DEPORTATIONS,
THE PROSECUTIONS, THE DATA
THAT'S THERE ON A PROPORTIONAL
BASIS, I THINK YOU'D FIND WHAT I
DESCRIBED. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT HAS
DECLINED OVER THE LAST 20-SOME
YEARS, PERHAPS 23 YEARS.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S
REACHED A BOTTOM AT THIS POINT,
I HOPE IT HAS, I HOPE IT TURNS
AROUND AND GOES THE OTHER WAY.
BUT WE HAVE LEARNED LESSON
FROM THE 1986 AMNESTY ACT.
THE AMNESTY TO END ALL
AMNESTIES.
IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME WE
WOULD EVER DO THIS AND NOW FROM
THAT POINT FORWARD WE WERE GOING
TO EPS FOR IMMIGRATION LAW SO
THAT WE HAD AN EFFECTIVE, WE
CONTROL WHO COMES IN THE UNITED
STATES AND WHO SAY ITS OUT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU CAN'T BE --
STAYS OUT OF THE UNITED STATES.
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU CAN'T BE A
NATION WITHOUT BORDERS, YOU
CAN'T CALL THEM BORDERS IF YOU
DON'T ENFORCE THEM, YOU CAN'T
CLAIM THEY'RE ENFORCED UNTIL YOU
-- UNLESS YOU DECIDE WHO COMES IN AND WHO STAYS OUT.
IF YOU DON'T -- UNLESS YOU
DECIDE WHAT PRODUCTS AND
MATERIALS COME IN AND WHICH
PRODUCTS STAY OUT.
BUT WE ARE TODAY A NATION THAT
HAS HAD SUCH A FLOOD OF ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION AND WE'VE ACTUALLY
HAD AT LEAST SIX MORE AMNESTIES
SINCE THEN AND MINOR, SMALLER
ONCE THAN THE LARGE 1986 AMNESTY
ACT.
AND THIS WAS -- THEY WERE
GENERALLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
AMNESTY TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE
MISSED OR FORGET IN 1986.
OH, BY THE WAY, THE ONE MILLION
PEOPLE IN 1986 YOU TURNED OUT TO
BE OVER THREE MILLION PEOPLE
FROM THE AMNESTY ACT OF 1986
BECAUSE ONE IS, WE'VE ALWAYS
UNDERESTIMATED THE NUMBERS OF
ILLEGALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE
UNITED STATES AND THE OTHER ONE
IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A
DIRECT LINE CUTOFF DATE, IF YOU
WERE IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE
A PARTICULAR DATE WOULD YOU
QUALIFY, IF YOU ARRIVED HERE
ILLEGALLY AFTER THAT DATE, YOU
DID NOT.
WELL, THERE WAS A MASSIVE AMOUNT
OF FRAUD.
THERE WAS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY
THAT WAS DEVELOPED THAT CAME
ABOUT IN ORDER TO DEFRAUD THE
1986 AMNESTY ACT.
SO OUR ONE MILLION, WHICH MAYBE
WAS TOO LOW A NUMBER IN ITS
ESTIMATE IN THE FIRST PLACE,
GREW TO THREE MILLION BECAUSE IT
WAS UNDERESTIMATED AND IT
CERTAINLY DIDN'T CONSIDER HOW
MUCH FRAUD THERE WOULD BE.
TODAY WE HAVE A LARGE BODY OF
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES,
MADAM SPEAKER, THAT ARE LOOKING
SIMPLY AT THIS NATION FROM THE
STANDPOINT OF WHAT AFFECTS THEIR
BOTTLE AM LINE, WHAT AFFECTS
THEIR LIFE, WHAT AFFECTS THE
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THEM IN
THEIR HONE HOUSEHOLDS, HOW DOES
IT EFFECT THEIR INVESTMENTS,
THEIR PROFITABILITY AND THEIR
FUTURES?
AND WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF
PEOPLE HERE IN THIS CONGRESS
THAT ARE DOING A POLITICAL
CALCULATION ON WHAT KIND OF
POLITICAL WER DOES IT GIVE
THEM IF WE WOULD JUST GRANT
AMNESTY TO THE 12 MILLION OR 20
MILLION OR MORE THAT ARE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.
SOME OF THOSE THAT WERE PROMISED
THEY WOULD COME TO THE STREETS
LAST SUNDAY AND NOT MANY OF THEM
SHOWED UP.
THOSE THAT PROMISED THEY'LL GO
TO THE STREETS TO DEMONSTRATE
NEXT SUNDAY AND WE'LL SEE HOW
MANY OF THEM WILL SHOW UP.
BUT ONCE YOU GRANT AMNESTY AND
YOU SAY YOU'LL NEVER DO IT
AGAIN, MADAM SPEAKER, YOU LOSE
YOUR VIRTUE.
WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR VIRTUE YOU
CAN'T GET IT BACK.
YOU CAN'T SAY IN 1986, WELL, I
DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM OF A MILLION ILLEGAL
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, SO
I'M JUST GOING TO LEGALIZE THEM
AND THAT SOLVES THE PROBLEM.
I NO LONGER HAVE ANY ILLEGALS IN
AMERICA.
BUT I'M NEVER DOING IT AGAIN.
AND I GUESS I'M THINKING OF SOME
IMANDS OF HOW VIRTUE GETS
COMPROMISED -- IMANDS OF HOW
VIRTUE GETS -- IMAGE OF HOW
VIRTUE GETS COMPROMISED.
LIKE WHEN SOMEONE GETS CAUGHT
STEALING A CANDY BAR, AND THEY
SAY, I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN,
WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'LL DO IT
AGAIN?
HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT SOMEONE
WHO HAS TOLD LIES ALL OF A
SUDDEN WILL DECIDE, I'M GOING TO
BE VIRTUAL WHITE HOUSE NOW?
PEOPLE DO HAVE EPIPNY --
EPIPHANIES BUT CLASSES OF
PEOPLE, NATIONALITIES AND
CULTURES DON'T HAVE EPIPHANIES.
THEY REACT TO REAL EXTERNAL
STIMULI.
THEY REACT TO ENFORCEMENT AT THE
BORDER, THEY REACT TO
ENFORCEMENT IN THE WORK SITE.
THEY REACT TO A CUURE AND A
CIVILIZATION THAT EITHER ADHERES
TO THE RULE OF LAW OR IT DOESN'T.
AND ONE OF THE GREAT STRENGTHS
OF AMERICA HAS BEEN, HAS ALWAYS
EN, THAT WE HAD GREAT RESPECT
FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
AND THAT EVERYONE WAS SUBJECT TO
EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW AND
THAT WE ENFORCE THE LAW WITHOUT
REGARD TO WHETHER YOU WERE A
PRINCE OR A PAUPER.
WE REJECTED PRINCES AND ROYALTY HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
BUT WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHO COMES
IN AND WHO DOESN'T COME IN.
WE HAVE THE MOST GENEROUS
IMMIGRATION POLICY ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD.
THERE IS NO COUNTRY OUT THERE
THAT CAN MATCH THEIR IMMIGRATION
POLICY UP TO THE UNITED STATES
AND ARGUE THAT THEIR BORDERS ARE
MORE OPEN, THAT THEY'RE MORE
ACCOMMODATING.
NO ONE TAKES IN MORE REFUGEES.
NO ONE PROVIDES MORE ASYLUM.
NO ONE ALLOWS IN MORE RAW
NUMBERS OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND
NO ONE DOES SO IN A GREATER
PERCENTAGE OF THEIR POPULATION
THAN WE DO HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THAT'S JUST THE LEGAL SIDE.
NO ONE'S BETTER THAN WE ARE.
THE REST OF THE WORLD CRITICIZES
US.
BUT NONE OF THEM CAN MATCH UP TO
THE UNITED STATES FOR BEING
GENEROUS IN PROVIDING LEGAL
ACCESS TO THIS GREAT NATION OF
LIBERTY, THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
AND WHILE THAT'S GOING ON, LEGAL
IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT RS ABOUT 1.1 MILLION TO
1.3 MILLION A YEAR, A HUGE
NUMBER, 1.1 MILLION TO 1.2
MILLION A YEAR ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION AND THE REASON I
HEAR IS THE LINES ARE TOO LONG.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
IN LINE FOR 10 YEARS OR 12 YEARS
WANTING TO COME INTO THE UNITED
STATES LEGALLY AND WE HAVE TO DO
METHING TO SHORTEN THESE
LINES.
WELL, THERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS
TO THAT, I PRESUME, MADAM
SPEAKER.
AND IF YOUR IDEA WAS ONLY TO
SHORT -- SHORTEN THE LINE SO
PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TO
COME INTO THE UNITED STATES, YOU
COULD OPEN UP THE DOOR WIDER AND
IN WOULD COME THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE IN THE LINE.
IF YOU DO THAT, MORE PEOPLE WILL
GET IN THE LINE.
BUT LET'S JUST LOOK AT IT --
LET'S THINK OF A LINE OF --
LET'S CALL IT 1. MILLION PEOPLE
LINED UP TO
STATES THROUGH THIS DOOR, MADAM
SPEAKER.
AND WE PROCESS THEIR PAPERWORK,
WE DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THEM,
WE EVALUATE WHETHER THEY'RE THE
KIND OF PEOPLE WE WANT TO COME
HERE OR NOT, BY FORMULA, NOT SO
MUCH BY ANALYSIS AND THEY GET TO
BRININ PEOPLE ON THE FAMILY
REUNIFICATION PLAN.
AND ONE PERSON MIGHT BRING IN
MORE THAN 250 IN THE FAMILY
REUNIFICATION PLAN AND THAT
FORMULA GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
BUT LET'S JUST IMAGINE THAT
THERE ARE 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE
LINED UP OUTSIDE THIS DOOR AND
ONCE A YEAR WE OPEN THE DOOR AND
WE LET THEM ALL IN.
THEN WE CLOSE THE DOOR WHEN WE
GET TO 1.2 MILLION.
THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BRING
IN THE -- INTO THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
AND IT'S A HUGE -- IT'S A HUGE
ENDEAVOR TO SEEK TO ASSIMILATE
AND ADAPT OUR ECONOMY TO THAT
MANY PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS
COUNTRY.
WELL, ALL THAT'S GOING ON.
OUR BIRTHVATE A LITTLE BIT TO
THE PLUS SIDE.
SO EVERY TIME WE LOSE SOMEBODY,
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE BABY BORN.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I WANT TO SEE OUR POPULATION
GROW ON A NATURAL BASIS AND SO
1.2 MILLION PEOPLE COMING IN THE
UNITED STATES LEGALLY, BUT
THERE'S ANOTHER LINEUP OUT THERE
THAT EVERY YEAR WE OPEN THE
DOOR, IN COME 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE BUT INTO THE LINE A FEW MORE
PEOPLE GET INTO THE LINE THAT'S
OUTSIDE AND SO THERE ARE NOT IN
REAL NUMBERS, BUT PRACTICALLY
SPEAKING, ROUGHLY A DECADE'S
SUPPLY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE LINED
UP WANTING TO COME INTO THE
UNITED STATES THIS IS GOING ON,
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 11,000
ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSERS SNEAKING
INTO THE UNITED STATES ON
AVERAGE ON A GIVEN NIGHT,
11,000.
ROUGHLY FOUR MILLION A YEAR
ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS COMING
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
FOUR MILLION.
11,000 A NIGHT.
TWICE THE SIZE OF SANTA ANA'S
ARMY THAT INVADED TEXAS, TWICE
THE SIZE, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.
COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES.
SOME GO BACK ON THEIR OWN.
SOME STAY AND SO THE RAW NET
NUMBERS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD
A LITTLE TROUBLE AGREEING ON WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.
BUT FOUR MILLION ILLEGAL BORDER
CROSSINGS COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
1.2 MILLION LEGAL ENTRANTS INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S THEATIO THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
IF WE CAN SHUT OFF THE BLEEDING
AT THE BORDER, SHUT OFF THE
BLEEDING INTO THE UNITED STATES
THAT'S COMING IN THROUGH ALL OF
THE PORTS OF EPTRY THAT WE HAVE
IN THE UNITED STATES -- ENTRY
THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED
STATES, AND SEAL THAT DOWN, WEEK
OF ALREADY CREATED SLOTS FOR
OTHER FOLKS THAT ASSIMILATE INTO
THE SOCIETY AND ASSIMILATE INTO
THIS CULTURE. FOUR MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR
ILLEGALLY COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
1.2 MILLION COMING IN LEGALLY.
AND THEY ARE THE ARGUMENT IS,
WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
LEGALIZE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.
SO MAYBE THERE ARE -- THE OTHER
SIDE WILL ALLOW 12 MILLION AS AN
ESTIMATE.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN USING 12
MILLION ILLEGALS IN AMERICA FOR
EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN IN
THIS CONGRESS AND THIS IS THE
SECRETARY OF NT.
NOW YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE --
SEVENTH.
NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A
ROCKET SURGEON TO FIGURE THIS
OUT.
AND THAT'S NOT A MISTAKE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A RKET
SURGEON TO FIGURE OUT THAT IF
YOU'VE GOT FOUR MILLION PEOPLE
COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES
ILLEGALLY EVERY YEAR AND DO YOU
THAT FOR SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW,
THE MATH ON THAT TURNS OUT TO BE
ABOUT, OH, 28 MILLION.
SOME GO BACK HOME, SOME DIE.
YES, BUT FOR 12 MILLION ILLEGALS
TO HAVE BEEN HERE IN 2002 AND
ONLY 12 MILLION ILLEGALS TO BE
HERE IN 2009 AND HAVE FOUR
MILLION OF THEM COMING IN EVERY
SINGLE YEAR DEFIES ANYBODY'S
LOGIC TO THINK THAT TH 12
MILLION IS A STATIC NUMBER.
IT HAS TO HAVE GROWN OR IF FOR
SOME REASON THAT I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT GROWING, I'D
LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO
ME HOW WE GOT TO THE 12 MILLION
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
WHAT RATIO?
THE REALITY IS, WE KNOW, MADAM
SPEAKER, THE NUMBER'S MORE THAN
12 MILLION.
IT'S VERY LIKELY MORE THAN 20
MILLION.
IT COULD BE 30ILLION.
BUT I'M HEARING PEOPLE ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IN
PARTICULAR ARGUE THAT, WELL, WE
CAN SOLVE THIS ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.
WE'LL JUST GRANT THEM, DON'T
CALL IT AMNESTY, WE'LL REDEFINE
IT AND CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, WAS AN
INTENSE DEBATE I HAD WITH KARL
ROVE ON -- AND I ADVISED HIM,
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REDEFINE
THE TERM AMNESTY.
IT IS AMNESTY IF YOU REDUCE THE
PENALTY.
IT'S AMNESTY IF YOU DON'T APPLY
THE PENALTY THAT APPLIES AT THE
TIME THEY COMMITTED THE CRIME.
BUT HIS ARGUMENT WAS, WELL, WHAT
IF WE REQUIRE THEM TO PAY A FINE
AND LEARN ENGLISH?
IF THEY PAID A $1,000 FINE, I
THINK WE'RE UP TO A $1,500 FINE
AND IF THEY LEARNED ENGLISH OR
TOOK ENGLISH CLASS THAT WE PAID
FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS,
WOULDN'T YOU THEN SAY THE NOT
AMNESTY?
BECAUSE AFTER ALL, SOME WOULD
EVEN PAY SOME OF THEIR BACK
TAXES BY THE LEGISLATION THAT
THEY OFFERED.
THEY'D BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THREE
OUT OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT
THEY PAID THEIR BACK TAXES.
WHAT AMERICAN CITIZEN WOULDN'T
WANT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY,
TO LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS AND SKIP THE BEST TWO
YEARS YOU HAD AND DECIDE NOT TO
PAY YOUR TAXES IN THOSE TWO
YEARS AND PUT THE CASH IN THE
BANK, STICK IT INTO THIS GIANT
A.T.M. THAT THEY VIEW AMERICA
HAS AND JUST SELECT THE THREE
WORST YEARS OUT OF THE LAST
FIVE?
PAY THE TAXES ON THAT?
HAVE SOMEBODY PAY FOR YOUR
CLASSES TO GO LEARN ENGLISH AND
THEN OUT OF THE TAX SAVINGS YOU
GET, YOU PAY A $15 U.N. FINE IN
ORDER TO GET AMNESTY CONSCIOUS
$1,500 FINE IN ORDER TO GET
AMNESTY?
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS IS A
BREATHTAKING CONCEPT FOR ME.
I CAN'T GET THERE.
I CAN'T GET MY LOGICAL MIND
AROUND THE IDEA EITHER THAT WE
COULD SOLVE THIS ILLEGAL PROBLEM
AND THE CRIME AND THE DRUG
SMUGGLING THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH
IT IF WE WOULD JUST LEGALIZE
PEOPLE AND KEEP MAKING THIS
ARGUMENT AND I HAVE YET TO FIND
ANYBODY WHO CAN SUSTAIN THE
ARGUMENT PAST THE OPENING
STATEMENT OF, WE CAN SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM, AT LEAST IF WE LEGALIZE
THEM, WE'LL KNOW WHO'S HERE.
THEY CAN'T GET TO THE SECOND
PHASE OF THAT ANALYSIS.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHO'S HERE?
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THEY TOLD YOU
THE TRUTH IN THE FIRST PLACE
WHEN YOU GRANTED THEM AMNESTY?
YOU HAVE SAID, ALL OF YOU COME
THROUGH THIS TURN STYLE AND WE
WILL TAKE YOUR IDENTIFICATION
AND GIVE US YOUR BIRTH
CERTIFICATE FROM MEXICO OR AL
SALVADOR OR WHEREVER IT MIGHT
BE, GUATEMALA, PERHAPS, AND
WE'LL GIVE YOU AN IDENTITY HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THAT'S THEIR
REAL IDENTITY?
MANY DON'T HAVE THE BIRTH
CERTIFICATES IN THEIR HOME
COUNTRY.
THEY DON'T MAYBE KNOW WHERE THEY
WERE BORN.
THEY CAN'T PROVE IT IF THEY DO
KNOW.
AND SO WE WOULD GRANT AN
IDENTIFICATION TO 12 MILLION OR
20 MILLION OR 30 MILLION PEOPLE,
GIVE THEM A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP
AND ALL THEY'D NEED TO DO IS A
TEST THAT THEY WERE SOMEONE.
WHY WOULD WE IMAGINE THEY WOULD
ATTEST THAT THEY WERE ONLY ONE
OF SOMEONE?
WOULDN'T THEY ALSO WALK THROUGH
THAT TURN STYLE TWO OR THREE
TIMES TO GET MULTIPLE
IDENTITIES?
MANY OF THEM ARE DOING IT NOW.
MANY OF THEM ARE TAKING ON THE
IDENTITY OF SOME AMERICAN, THEY
HAVE DONE THAT, WHEN SOMEBODY
STEELS -- STEALS YOUR IDENTITY,
YOU'RE NEVER DONE.
YOU NEVER CAN COME BACK TO THE
THE PERSON YOU WERE AGAIN
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN OUT
THERE IN SOCIETY YOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER, YOUR DRIVER'S
LICENSE, THOSE I.D.'S THAT ARE
DOCUMENTS THAT ARE PASSED TO THE
QUISKSY OF CITIZENSHIP, AREN'T
BEING USED.
THEY MIGHT -- YOU MIGHT CATCH
THE PERSON BUT YOU NEVER KNOW
HOW MANY PEOPLE PICKED UP YOUR
IDENTITY AND TRANSLATED THAT
ALONG THE WAY, TRANSFERRED ALONG
THE WAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT
BE WORKING UNDER YOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER.
BUT IF WE WOULD GRANT THIS
AMNESTY, THIS -- I'VE FORGOTTEN
THE TERM THAT THEY USE BECAUSE
AMNESTY IS THE MOST DESCRIPTIVE
TERM, WE WOULD GRANT THIS, WE
WOULD SEE, 12 MILLION, 20
MILLION, MAYBE 30 MILLION PEOPLE
LINE UP AND ASK FOR THEIR PATH
TO CITIZENSHIP.
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE
BUT WE'VE GIVEN THEM
IDENTIFICATION.
WE CAN'T DO A BACKGROUND CHECK
ON THEM BECAUSE WE CAN'T VERIFY
WHO EY ARE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO NOW WE HAVE INTO OUR SYSTEM,
LET'S SAY 20 MILLION, 20 MILLION
PEOPLE INTO OUR SYSTEM WHO HAVE
EN GRANTED SOME KIND OF A
LEGAL STATUS AND THIS LEGAL
STATUS ISN'T INDEXED INTO
ANYTHING THEY DID IN THE PAST
BECAUSE AFTER ALL, NOBODY'S
GOING TO COME FORWARD AND SAY,
OH, YEAH, I WAS A FELON.
THE CRIMINALS WILL NOT COME
FORWARD AND IDENTIFY THEMSELVES.
SO WE WILL HAVE ARE PURIFIED
THE I.D. OF PEOPLE WHO COME
HERE AND ACCESS IDEBIT --
IDENTIFICATION THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM.
WE'VE GIVEN THEM AN
IDENTIFICATION THAT ALLOWS THEM
TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE THEY WANT
TO, ANY TIME THEY WANT.
TO SO THE IDEA THAT WE CAN KEEP
TRACK OF THEM IS A FALSE AND
PEESHES DREAM BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE WE WANTED TO KEEP TRACK
OF ARE NOT GOING TO STEP UP AND VOLUNTEER TO BE TRACKED.
WHAT WE HAVE TODAY ARE FOUR
MILLION BORDER CROSSINGS A YEAR
POURING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
BORDER, AN ACCUMULATION OF 20
MILLION TO 30 MILLION ILLEGALS
IN AMERICA AND IN THAT HUGE,
HUMAN HAYSTACK, ARE THE NEEDLES
THAT ARE THE CRIMINALS, THE
DRUG DEALERS, THE MURDERERS,
THAT ARE HIDDEN WITHIN THAT
HUGE HUMAN HAYSTACK OF
HUMANITY. AND THE IDEA ON THE PART OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, BY THE
WAY, THE IDEA ON THE PART OF
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR
PRESIDENT AS WELL, WAS WE'RE
GOING TO GRANT THEM AMNESTY,
WHEN WE LEGITIMIZE THIS HUGE,
HUMAN HAYSTACK, WE'LL BE ABLE
TO SORT THE NEEDLES OUT OF THE
HAY
THAT'S AN IM-- IMPOSSIBILITY.
IT'S AN IMPOSSIBILITY TO TAKE
THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
LET PEOPLE HAVE A PATH TO
CITIZENSHIP AND GIVE THEM
DOCUMENTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO LEGALLY TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THE U.S.
VISIT PROGRAM IS ONLY HALF
OPERATIONAL WE KEEP TRACK OF
WHO COMES INTO AMERICA, B WE
DON'T KEEP TRACK OF WHO GOES
OUT OF AMERICA.
AND I TESTED THIS ONE EVENING
DOWN ON A BORDER CROSSING ON
THE MEXICAN BORDER, JUST SIMPLY
WAS THERE, OBSERVING WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
I RECALL PEOPLE COMING THRU
THERE, THAT OUR BORDER PATROL,
THAT BORDER PATROL KNEW, OUR
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
PEOPLE KNEW, THEY WOULD SAY
YES, SWIPE IT THROUGH THE U.S.
VISIT COMPUTER, IT WOULD
REGISTER THE IDENTITY ON THE CARD THAT MATCHED THE FACE OF
THE DRIVER, THE DRIVER TOOK
OFF.
I STOOD THERE A WHILE LONGER,
MAYBE AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF
LATER.
SAME CAR CAME BACK, SAME
INDIVIDUAL IN IT, DROVE BACK
INTO MEXICO.
AND SO I SAID, YOU SWIPED HER
CARD COMING IN, CHECKED HER
I.D. YOU DIDN'T SWIPE HER CARD
GOING OUT.
NO WE DON'T GET TRACK OF THAT.
A FEW PLACES I UNDERSTAND WE
DO, PILOT PROGRAMS, BUT WE
DON'T KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
WE CAN'T GET A SYSTEM UP TO
DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PROPER DOCUMENTATION TODAY TO
KEEP THAT BALANCE SHEET OF THE
COMPUTER DATABASE OF WHO CAME
INTO THE UNITED STATES, WHO
LEFT OUT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THEN THE BALANCE IN THE
MIDDLE, THOSE THAT HAVE NOT
LEFT, OSE THAT CAME IN, MINUS
THOSE THAT LEFT WILL BE THE
LIST OF NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE HERE.
WE CAN'T EVEN GET THAT DONE.
WE WOULD HAVE LEGITIMIZED 20
MILLION OR 30 MILLION PEOPLE, TELL OURSELVESES THAT SOMEHOW
OUT OF THIS HAYSTACK OF
HUMANITY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO
FERRET OUT THE CRIMINALS, DRUG
DEALERS AND VIOLENT PEOPLE THAT
ARE THERE, ALL THE WHILE IN
THIS STREAM OF HUMANITY COMES
90% OF THE ILLEGAL DRUGS IN
AMERICA, MADAM SPEAKER.
90% COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN
BORDER.
AND ALL THE HUMAN CARNAGE THAT
GOES WITH THAT.
THE DAMAGE TO OUR FAMILIES.
THE DAMAGE TO OUR PRODUCTIVITY.
THE LOSS IN LIVES.
THE CHILDREN THAT ARE ABUSED.
THE WIVES AND SOMETIMES, AND
LESS OFTEN, THE HUSBANDS
VIOLENTLY ATTACKED BY THEIR
SPOUSE, THEIR SIGNIFICANT
OTHER.
THE CHILDREN THAT COME THAT ARE
ABUSED OF METH AM FEET MEANS,
BECAUSE OF CRACK COCAINE AND
BECAUSE OF COCAINE ITSELF.
THOSE DRUGS, MARIJUANA WHICH
OFTEN IS A GATAY DRUG TO THE
DRUGS THAT INCITE HIGHER LEVEL
OF VIOLENCE.
THIS DAMAGE TO AMERICA'S
SOCIETY IS HIGH.
IT'S HIGH IN TERMS OF DOLLARS
AND HOST PRODUCTIVITY, HIGH IN
TERMS OF HUMAN LIFE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WILL BE
CONTINUING TO PRESS OUR DRUG
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND ALL THE
RELEVANT AGENCIES TO GIVE ME
THE NUMBERS ON WHAT THE COST IS
TO THIS ECONOMY WHAT IS THE
STREET VALUE OF THE ILLEGAL
DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA?
THEY CAN GIVE ME A NUMBER THAT
TELLS ME ABOUT HOW MUCH IS
PROFIT THAT GOES SOUTH, BUT
THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO BE
ABLE TO GIVE ME A NUMBER ON HOW
MUCH IS SPENT ON ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
I CAN TELL YOU AUT HOW MUCH
MOY IS WIRED OUT OF THE
UNITED STATES INTO THE REST OF
THIS HEMISPHERE, ALMOST ALL OF
IT SOUTH, AND IT WORKS OUT TO
BE THIS -- $60 BILLION A YEAR
AGO.
$60 BILLION WIRED FROM THE
UNITED STATES INTO POINTS
SOUTH, HALF OF IT INTO MEXICO,
$30 BILLION INTO MEXICO, $50
BILLION INTO MEXICO OVER THE
LAST TWO YEARS.
THAT'S BILLION WITH A B, NOT
TRILLION WITH A T.
BILLION WITH A B.
BUT $30 BILLION AND ANOTHER $30
BILLION THAT WENT INTO THE
CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA.
$60 BILLION OUT OF THIS ECONOMY
A LOT OF IT CAME FROM WAGES
THAT WERE EARNED, SOME BY LEGAL
IMMIGRANTS THAT ARE HERE, THEY
HAVE A PERFECT RIGHT TO WIRE
THEIR EARNED MONEY WHEREVER
THEY WANT TO WIRE THEIR EARNED
MONEY, I'LL DEFEND THAT, BUT
IT'S A CRANE OUT OF THIS ECONOMY.
COUPLED WITH THAT ARE THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WIRED OUT
OF THE UNITED STATES IN WAGES
EARNED ILLEGALLY.
COUPLED WITH THAT ARE THE
BILLIONS THAT ARE LAUNDERED AND
WIRED OUT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA THAT ARE BEING PAID
FOR BY ILLEGAL DRUGS THAT ARE
THE STREET VALUE OF ILLEGAL
DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
THAT'S THE NUMBER I DON'T HAVE.
THAT'S THE NUMBER I'M GOING TO
PRESS UNTIL I GET, MAM
SPEAKER.
BECAUSE WE CAN THEN START TO
MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BROADER
PARAMETERS OF HAVING A
KNOWLEDGE BASE OF THE BIG
PICTURE SYSTEM OF THE BIG
PICTURE WORK BLANKS IN IT, IS,
OUR ECONOMY LOSES $60 BILLION A
YEAR THAT'S WIRED SOUTH.
MUCH OF IT FROM WAGES AND I
THINK A SIGNIFICANT PORTION,
LEGITIMATE, LEGAL WAMES.
$60 BILLION GOING THAT WAY.
THERE'S A PROFIT MARGIN AROUND
$25 BILLION ON ILLEGAL DRUGS IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ABOUT 90% OF THOSE ILLEGAL
DRUGS COME ACROSS THE BORDER
WITH MEXICO.
MANY OF THOSE DRUGS ORIGINATE
IN COUNTRIES SOUTH OF MEXICO
AND TRAVEL THROUGH MEXICO.
THE MAGNET FOR THOSE ILLEGAL
DRUG STHESS MARKET HERE, THE
MARKET HERE IS ALLOWED AND
CREATED BECAUSE WE HAVE DRUG
ABUSERS IN AMERICA AND LOTS OF
THEM ANDHEY SPEND A LOT OF
MONEY IN A YEAR.
THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE
TELL ME THEY DON'T KNOW THAT
ANSWER.
I SAY THEY'VE GOT THE DATA AND
IF THEY CANT FIGURE IT OUT, I
CAN AND I WILL.
IN ANY CASE, THE LOSS TO THIS
ECONOMY IS HUGE AND WHEN
MEXICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SIT
DOWN IN MY OFFICE AND BEGIN TO
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE VIOLENCE
IN MEXICO BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE
DRUG TRADE, I HAVE TO CONCEDE
TO THEM THE POINT THAT IT'S THE
DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE
UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE
PROFIT ASSOCIATED WITH
SMGLING DRUGS INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE
METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION IN
THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN
REDUCED TO A MINIMUM BECAUSE
WE'VE PASSED SOME LEGISLATION
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER AND
SOME OF THE STATES HAVE MADE IT
BETTER THAT SHUTS DOWN THESE
PSEUDOEPHEDRINES THAT ARE THE
FEED STOCKS TO MAKE METH AM
FEET -- METHAMPHETAMINE.
IN IOWA WE HAVE A GOOD LAW THAT
TAKES THAT OUT OF THE LABS.
THEY STILL MAKE METH IN IOWA,
NOW MAYBE THAT NUMBER IS 95% OF
THE METHAMPHETAMINE IN IOWA
COMES FROM MEXICO, BECAUSE WE
MADE IT HARDER FOR HOME TO MAKE
IT IN IOWA.
THEY MADE IT HARDER IN OREGON
AND I THINK OKLAHOMA AND OTHER
STAT.
ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION
THAT I GATHER IS THAT MEXICO
AND THEY ADVISED ME DOWN THERE
THAT THEY'VE DONE, IT'S A
MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY AND I
APPLAUD THEM FOR IT.
FOR THE BEGINNING OFHE YEAR
2008 THEY OUTLAWED THE
IMPORTATION OF PSEUDOFED RUNS
IN MEXICO, -- OF PSEUDOFED RUN
-- PSEUDOEPHEDRINES IN MEXICO.
THEY ALLOWED PEOPLE WHO HAD IT
IN THEIR POSSESSION TO GET RID
OF IT BY THE END OF 2008.
IT'S NOW ILLEGAL TO POSSESS
PSEUDOEPHEDRINE IN MICO
BECAUSE IT'S A FEED STOCK USED
TO PRODUCE METHAMPHETAMINES.
THAT'S A COUPLE OF BIG PIECES
OF LEGISLATION, A STRONG IT
COMMIT -- A STRONG COMMITMENT
ON THE PT OF THE MEXICAN
GOVERNMENT TOEDUCE THE NUMBER
OF METHAMPHETAMIS THAT COME
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
NOW COMES ORDER THAT COME INTO
THE UNITED STATES THROUGH
VARIOUS MEANS, I WON'T SPEAK TO
THOSE MEANS.
THEN THE PSEUDOEPHEDRINES THAT
CAN'T BE IMPORTED INTO THE
UNITED STATES, GET SMUGGLE
INTO MEXICO, TURNED INTO
METHAMPHETAMINES AND BROUGHT
BACK INTO AMERICA.
THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON AT A
HUGE PRICE TO AMERICAN LIVES,
BLOOD AND TREASURE ALL
TOGETHER, AND THE PRICE WE PAY
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY IS HIGH
BUT THE PRICE THEY PAID IN
MEXICO, AT LEAST AS PUBLISHED
IN THE NEWS IS PERHAPS HIGHER
YET.
AND WE HAVE -- WE DO NOT HAVE A
FULL APPROACH TO WHAT WE NEED
TO DO ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUGS IN
AMERICA.
WE TALK ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHAT ABOUT
COMPREHENSIVE ILL DEAL --
ILLEGAL DRUG REFORM.
LOOK AT THIS THING FROM A
BROADER BASIS AND FIRST OF ALL,
I WILL SUGGEST THAT AS LONG AS
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS
OUR BORDER LEGALLY AND
ILLEGALLY TO THE TUNE OF FOUR
MILLION ILLEGALS A YEAR, AND I
DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL CROSSING
NUMBERS, FOUR MILLION ILLEGAL
CROSSINGS A YEAR AND OF THAT
NUMBER, ROUGHLY 11,000 A NIGHT,
DRUGS BEING SMUGGLED IN IN THAT
STREAM AND THE STREAM ITSELF,
WHETHER THEY ARE INVOLVED IN OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OTHER
THAN THE CRIME OF COMING INTO
THE UNITED STATES, THEY BECOME
A SHIELD, A HABITAT, A WAY OF
PROTECTING THE STREAM OF
ILLEGAL DRUG SMUGGLERS
OPERATING ALL OVER THE UNITED
STATES.
WHEN I ASKED THE DRUG
ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IF MAGICALLY, TOMORROW
MORNING, EVERYONE WOKE UP IN
THEIR OWN COUNTRY A PLACE WHERE
THEY WERE LEGAL WHAT IF HE HAD
NO ILLEGALS IN AMERICA,
MAGICALLY, TOMORROW MORNING.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE
ILLEGAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES?
AND THEIR ANSWER HAS
CONSISTENTLY BEEN, THAT WILL
SUSPEND IMMEDIATELY ILLEGAL
DRUG DISTRIBUTION IN AMERICA
BECAUSE AT LEAST ONE LINK IN
EVERY DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IS A
LINK THAT'S FORGED BY AN
ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
SOMETIMES EVERY LINK IS AN
ILLEGAL LINK.
BUT THEY'RE FORGING THESE
LINKS, AT LEAST ONE LINK NEVER
ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION -- ILLEGAL
DRUG DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IS AN
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT THAT'S HERE
TRANSFERRING DRUGS.
SO IF WE HAD, AND I WON'T
ARGUE, I'LL SAY THIS FIRST
HYPOTHETICAL, IF WE HAD FULL
ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS
OVERNIGHT, WE'D SHUT OFF
ILLEGAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION
OVERNIGHT, MADAM SPEAKER.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THE
DISTRIBUTION CHAINS WOULDN'T BE
RECONSTRUCTED, THAT THERE
WOULDN'T BE ILLEGAL DRUG
ENTREPRENEURS TO FILL THE
DEMAND, BECAUSE THE DEMAND DOES
EXIST.
IT EXISTS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES BUT THE PROFIT IS GOING
TO MEXICO. WE HAVE ABOUT TWO CHOICES ON
THIS I SAY THERE ARE THREE
CHOICES.
WE CAN RAMP UP THE INTERDICTION
TO THE POINT WHERE IT RAISES
THE TRANSACTION COST SO HIGH
THAT DRUG SMUGGLING, BRINGING
IT INTO THE UNITED STATES WOULD
GET SO COSTLY IT WOULD CEASE.
THAT'S ONE THING WE CAN DO.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN
DO WOULD BE -- WOULD BE TO TURN
UP THE DRUG TESTING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THINKING OF IT IN THESE TERMS
IF EVERY EMPLOYER HAD A
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE IF EVERY
EMPLOYER ENFORCED A DRUG-FREE
WORKPLACE POLICY IF THEY
ALLOWED, IF THE EMPLOYERS
ACTUALLY INITIATED DRUG TESTING
WITHIN THE WORKFORCE IN FOUR
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IF THEY
HAD PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING SO
LET'S JUST SAY AT THE H.R.
DEPARTMENT IF ONE SITS DOWN FOR
A JOB INTERVIEW, AND THE
EMPLOYER INTERVIEWS THEM AND
THEY COME TO THIS CONCLUSION
THAT THEY'D LIKE TO HIRE THEM,
THEY SAY, ALL RIGHT, I WANT YOU
TO COME TO WORK FOR ME ON
MONDAY MORNING, BUT CONDITIONAL
TO THIS.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RUN YOUR
NUMBERS AND YOUR DATA THROUGH
E-VERIFY TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU'RE LEGAL AND THE SECOND
THING IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO DO
IS COMPLY WITH THE DRUG TEST.
I'LL SET YOU UP, YOU CAN BE
WITH -- WE'VE GOT THIS CLINIC
HERE THAT WORKS WITH US, WE'LL
RUN YOU OVER THAT, YOU PS THE
TEST, PASS THE E-VERIFY YOU GO
TO WORK ON MONDAY MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PROCESS.
SOME COMPANIES DO THIS.
IN FACT, MANY COMPANIES IN IOWA
DO DO THIS, WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF E-VERIFY, THEY HAVE TO HIRE
THEM BEFORE THEY CAN USE
E-VERIFY.
THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, MADAM
SPEAKER, BUT THE PREEMPLOYMENT
DRUG TEST IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL
AND EMPLOYERS CAN SCREEN THEIR
EMPLOYERS SO THEY'RE HIRING
DRUG-FREE EMPLOYEES AT THE
MOMENT THEY HIRE THEM.
THREE OTHER CATGOIRS OF DRUG
TESTING NEED TO FALL INTO THIS.
POST-ACCIDENT TESTING.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY
KIND, WHETHER IT'S HIS OR HER
FAULT OR NOT, IF THERE'S A
PERSONAL INJURY IF THERE'S A
PROPERTY DAMAGE, THEN AN
EMPLOYER NEEDS TO HAVE A
POLICY, A WORKPLACE DRUG
TESTING POLICY, THAT WILL TEST
THAT EMPLOYEE ON THE BASIS THAT
IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, THERE'S
A SIGN THERE THAT'S AN
INDICATOR. YOU HAVE EMPLOYEE
PRO--EMPLOYMENT TEST,
POST-ACCIDENT TESTING, YOU'D
HAVE TO HAVE REASONABLE
SUSPICION TESTING, AND THAT IS
WHEN YOU HAVE TRAINED
SUPERVIDSERY PERSONNEL THAT ARE
QUALIFIED, THAT CAN WATCH THE
BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OF EMPLOYEES
AND UNDER THAT LEGITIMATE
EVALUATION SEND EMPLOYEES OFF
FOR A DRUG TEST THAT ARE
SHOWING SIGNS OF DRUG ABUSE,
THAT'S THE THIRD WAY, AND THE
FOURTH WAY, AND I THINK IT'S
THE MOST EFFECTIVE, IS RANDOM
DRUG TESTING, IT'S THE SAME
SYSTEM WE HAVE FOR OUR
CERTIFIED -- OUR CERTIFIED
DRIVER'S LICENSES, OUR
C.D.L.'S, WHICH I CARRY ONE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRIVE AN
OVER THE ROAD TRUCK TODAY,
MADAM SPEAKER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE
AN UP TO DATE PHYSICAL, YOU
HAVE TO HAVE A LOGBOOK AND YOU
HAVE TO ALSO BE IN THE RANDOM
DRUG TESTING POOL SO THAT WHEN
THEY PULL YOUR NUMBER, WHEN THE
RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR KICKS
YOUR NUMBER OUT, YOU GO IN AND
YOU GIVE A SIMPLE AND YOU GET
TESTED.
SO IF YOU HAVE FOUR WAYS OF
WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING, YOU
HAVE PREEMPLOYMENT, POST
ACCIDENT, REASONABLE SUSPICION,
AND RANDOM DRUG TESTING, THOSE
FOUR COMPONENTS ARE THE TOOLS
THAT ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD HAVE
AND DO NEED TO GUARANTEE A
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.
AND NOW, MADAM SPEAKER, THINK OF
A WORLD THAT INSTEAD OF $25
BILLION IN PROFIT GOING TO DRUG
LORDS IN SOUTH OF THE BORDER,
WHEREVER THEY MIGHT BE SOUTH OF
THE BORDER, WITH ALL OF THIS
HUMAN CARNAGE OF THE DEATH AND
THE VIOLENCE THAT COMES FROM THE
DRUG ABUSE ITSELF, OF THE CRIME
AND THE DEATH AND THE VIOLENCE
THAT COMES WITH THE STRUGGLE,
FIGHTING OVER WHOSE DRUG TURF,
WHOSE PROFIT, WHOSE ILLEGAL
BORDER CROSSING ISOING TO BE
CONTROLLED.
NEDS OF THAT, ALL OF THAT COULD
GO AWAY.
ALL OF THAT COULD GO AWAY IF WE
REIS IT STIGMATIZE DRUG ABUSE IN
AMERICA, IF WE INCREASE THE
TESTING IN THESE CATEGORIES THAT
I'VE SAID, PRE-LOIMENT, POST
ACCIDENT AND REASONABLE
SUSPENSION, RANDOM DRUG TESTING,
IF WE DID ALL FOUR OF THOSE AND
IF PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS
CHOSE TO DO SO TO CLEAN UP THEIR
WORK SITE AND TO LOWER THEIR
INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND IMPROVE
THE WORK AREA SO THAT THEY HIRED
A BETTER CLASS OF EMPLOYEES, IF
THAT HAPPENED, IF GOVERNMENT
TESTED IN A RANDOM FASHION SO
THAT WE WERE SUBJECT AND THAT
WOULD BE DETERRENT FOR MANY
PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE
EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS, SO IF
WE TEST IN EMPLOYMENT, ALL
EMPLOYMENT, AND I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT A FEDERAL MANDATE, MADAM
SPEAKER, I'M TALKING ABOUT
SETTING A SCENARIO UP WHERE WE
PROVIDE THE RIGHT INCENTIVES SO
THIS CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN, SO
WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING, WELFARE
DRUG TESTING, WHY WOULD WE BE
GRANTING PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF
SOMEONE ELSE'S LABOR THROUGH
HANDING TAX DOLLARS OUT TO
WELFARE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE WHO
ARE ENABLED TO TAKE THE DAY OFF
AND DO DRUGS ALL DAY BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT WORKING AND SO WE
GIVE THEM RENT SUBSIDY, HEAT
SUBSIDY, FOOD STAMPS, THE HOLE
LIST, TITLE 19, THE LIST GOES
ON.
ALLOWS THEM TO ABUSE DRUGS ALL
DAY AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK.
WHY WOULDN'T WE AS A CONDITION
IT TO OUR HEALTH THAT IS TO BE A
SAFETY NET FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN
NEED AND HOPEFULLY A TRANSITION
INTOHE WORKFORCE, WHERE THEY WANT THEM, WE'RE GOING TO
REQUIRE YOU SUBMIT YOURSELF TO A RANDOM DRUG TEST.
THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WOULD NO LONGER BE ON
WELFARE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
ONE OF THEM IS WE WOULDN'T
PROVIDE THEM THAT WELFARE IF
THEY WERE ON DRUGS.
WE WOULD PULL THE PLUG AND SEND
THEM TO REHAB.
IF THEY FAILED THAT, THAT'S
ANOTHER EQUATION.
OR, MANY OF THEM WILL JUST DECIDE, I CAN'T LIVE THIS
ILLEGAL DRUG LIFE ANY LONGER,
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET A JOB
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO TEST ME
EVENTUALLY AND THEY'LL
TRANSATION OFF OF WELFARE AND
INTO WORK.
IF WE TEST IN THE WORKPLACE,
TO TEST IS IN THE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS.
YES, THAT INCLUDES OUR COLLEGES,
OUR UNIVERSITIES, IT INCLUDES
OUR SCHOOLS, TO ALMOST EVERY
DEGREE.
AND IT INCDES THE EMPLOYEES
THAT ARE THERE AS WELL.
IF WE HAD A RANDOM DRUG TESTING
SYSTEM SET UP AND WE THINK OF
THE THREE LARGE UNIVERSES OF
THIS SOCIETY, THE WORK FORCE,
THE WELFARE
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE
STUDENTS AND FACULTY THERE, WE
HAVE COVERED EVERYONE IN AMERICA
ANDEN THEM A RANDOM RISK --
GIVEN THEM A RANDOM RISK, I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THEM
ALL IN THE SAME POOL.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ON A VOLUNTARY
BASIS FOR THE EMPLOYERS TO DO
THAT ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, MOVE THROUGH THIS, BUILD
THIS INSTITUTIONALLY AND AT A
POINT WE THEN -- WE'VE CANED
UP THE WORKFORCE, WE'VE CLEANED
UP THE WELFARE ROLLS, WE'VE
CLEANED UP THE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS.
THREE HUGE UNIVERSES OF THIS
SOCIETY AND CIVILIZATION, MADAM SPEAKER.
AND THE RESULT OF IT, WHO WOULD
BE LEFT?
WHO WOULD BE LEFT TO BE ON
DRUGS?
AND THE ANSWER IS, NOBODY,
EXCEPT THOSE WHO ARE DEALING AND
THOSE WHO ARE STEALING.
IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO FOCUS ON THE
DEALERS AND STEALERS IF WE
PROVIDE THE DETERRENT FOR
EVERYBODY ELSE IN THOSE OTHER
HUGE SPHERES OF THIS SOCIETY,
THIS CULTURE, THIS ECONOMY.
THAT WOULD, THIS PROPOSAL THAT I
HAVE LAID OUT HERE, MADAM
SPEAKER, WOULD SHUT DOWN
DRAMATICALLY THE DEMAND FOR
ILLEGAL DRUGS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
IF WE DID THAT, THEN WE ULD
SEE FEWER ILLEGAL BORDER
CROSSINGS, WE WOULDN'T SEE THE
DEATH AND DEBT INSTRUCTION IN
MEXICO AS THEY FIGHT OVER WHO'S
GOING TO SELL DRUGS BECAUSE THE
MARKET WOULD BE DRYING UP HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE TO DRY THIS MARKET UP.
AND IF WE CAN'T DRY THE MARKET
UP ON ILLEGAL DRUGS IN AMERICA,
THEN WE GET TO WILLIAM F.
BUCKLEY'S SOLUTION WHICH IS,
CAPITULATE AND LEGALIZE.
I'M NOT THERE YET, MADAM
SPEAKER, AND I SAY YET BECAUSE I
THINK THAT IT'S WORTH
ESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAW,
IT'S WORTH RE-ESTABLISHING IT,
IT'S WORTH ENFORCING ON THE
BORDER, IT'S WORTH ENFORCING ON
OUR WORK SITE, IT'S WORTH
ENFORCING ACROSS THE STREETS OF
AMERICA AND E HIGHWAYS OF
AMERICA AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE
EFFORTS THAT ARE EFFECTIVE AND
WE SHOULD REWARD THE PEOPLE WHO
ENFORCE THE L.
BUT IF WE OULD FAIL TO DO THAT
AND IF WE'RE UNABLE TO IMPLEMENT
A POLICY THAT WOULD BE WORKPLACE
DRUG TESTING, THENT SOME POINT
ALL THE VIOLENCE THAT COMES WITH
THIS, DRUGS THAT WE HAVE TODAY,
IS A MIRROR OF WHAT HAPPENED
BACK DURING THE PROHIBITION ERA
OF THE ROARING 1920'S.
WHEN THIS COUNTRY CAME TO A
CONCLUSION THEY COULDN'T ENFORCE
A PROHIBITION ON ALCOHOL AND
THAT THE VIOLENT CRIME THAT WAS
COMING WITH IT AND THEN THE
NONVIOLENT CRIME WAS SO GREAT
THAT THEY WOULD RATHER TOLERATE
THE ALCOHOL THAN TOLERATE THE
VIOLENCE.
I'M NOT THERE, WE HAVE A
TOLERANCE LEVEL BUILT INTO THIS
CIVILIZATION THAT'S THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA THAT ACCEPTS
THE IDEA THAT IF IT WE DON'T SEE
IT IN FRONT OF US EVERYDAY,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SCORE THE
CARNAGE. BUT THE CARNAGE IS HIGH.
THE LOSS IN LIVES IS HIGH.
THE LOSS IN LIVES EVEN AT THE
HANDSES OF ILLEGAL ALIENS TO
AMERICANS IS VERY, VERY HIGH.
WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
WITNESSES COME BEFORE THE
IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE THAT
ARE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO
HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE AT THE
HANDS OF ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIENS
WHO HAD BEEN INTERDICTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HAD LAW UN-- LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAD ENCOUNTER THEM.
PERHAPS KNEW THEY WERE ILLEGAL
OR CHOSE NOT TO DETERMINE AND
RELEASED THEM BACK ON THE
STREETS.
A GOOD NUMBER OF THESE
PERPETRATORS THAT TOOK THE LIVES
OF AMERICANS HAD BEEN ARRESTED A
NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE, THAT
AVERAGE IS AIGH NUMBER THAT'S
PART OF A G.A.O. STUDY THAT WAS
RELEASED IN MAY OF 2005.
AND YET WE STILL HAVE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT'S TOLD ON A
CONTINUAL BASIS THAT THEY REALLY
DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OR U.S.
IMMIGRATION LAW.
MADAM SPEAR, I REJECT THAT
PHILOSOPHY.
IT IS A SOLID POSITION FOR LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENFORCE
IMMIGRATION LAW.
WE PASSED THE 287-G PROGRAM THAT
SETS IT UP SO THAT LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAN RECEIVE TRAINING
AND WORK IN DIRECT CORPORATION
WITH I.C.E. AND STEP INTO THE
SHOES OF I.C.E.
THAT'S A 287-G PROGRAM.
THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
IT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS DOES
EVERIFY NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED SO
THAT AN EMPLOYER CAN USE IT TO
RUN HIS CURRENT EMPLOYEES
THROUGH IT, TO VERIFY THAT THEY
ARE -- THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
WORKING THERE FOR HIM NOW ARE
LAWFULLY THERE.
NOT JUST ON THE NEW HIRES.
THAT WILL BE HELPFUL WITH THIS.
BUT WE NEED TO DO MUCH, MUCH
MORE.
WE NEED TO ENFORCE OUR
IMMIGRATION LAWS, WE NEED TO
STOP THE BLEEDING ATED BORDER,
WE NEED TO BEEP YOU HAVE OUR
PORTS OF ENTR WE NEED TO USE
ALL TECHNOLOGY DOWN THERE AT ALL
LOCATIONS AND CONTINUALLY GET
BETTER BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYING A
CHESS GAME AGAINST US.
THEY'RE BRINGING CONTRABAND,
ILLEGAL DRUGS AND OUR PRODUCTS,
INTO THE UNITED STATES, EVEN
THREE OUR LEGAL PORTS OF ENTRY
AND THE ILLEGAL RTS OF ENTRY
AND YET, AND YET, MADAM SPEAKER,
AS I LISTEN AND I READ THE US IN
AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH --
READ THE NEWS AND HAVE
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION AT THE CABINET
LEVEL, I SEE A SHIFT IN PRIORITY
FROM THE INTERDICTION OF ILLEGAL
DRUGS AND PEOPLE COMING INTO THE
UNITED STATES ACROSS OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER TO A PIVOT,
ALMOST A FULL PIVOT, MADAM
SPEAKER, TO INSTEAD OF LINING
OUR FOLKS UP ON THE BORDER AND
GUARDING AGAINST WHAT'S COMING
FROM THE SOUTH, BUT A TURNAROUND
AND LOOK TO THE NORTHO BE IN A
POSITION TO INTERCEPT A LEGAL
SECOND AMENDMENT-DEFENDED
AMERICAN GUNS THAT ARE GOING
SOUTH THAT BECOME ILLEGAL WHEN
THEY'RE SMUGGLED ACROSS THE
BORDER INTO MEXICO.
NOW, I'VE HEARD SOME
HIGH-PROFILE INDIVIDUALS TALK
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
AND ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WOULD BE GENERAL WESLEY CLARK
WHO USED TO COMMAND NATO AND WAS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
I LISTENED TO HIM TALK.
HE ARGUED THAT WE WERE SMUGGLING
ASSAULT WEAPONS INTO ILLEGAL --
ILLEGAL ASSAULT WEAPONS INTO
MEXICO AND SMUGGLING MACHINE
GUNS INTO MEXICO AND, MADAM
SPEAKER, NEITHER ONE OF THOSE
STATEMENTS IS TRUE.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN
ASSAULT WEAPON INTO THE UNITED
STATES, AT LEAST BY A
DEFINITION.
THAT WAS A LEGAL DEFINITION THAT
EXPIRED A FEW YEARS AGO.
RIGHTFULLY SO.
BECAUSE YOU CANNOT DEFINE AN
ASSAULT WEAPON WITHOUT DEFINING
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
YOU CAN'T DEFINE AN ASSAULT
WEAPON BY SIMPLY DEFINING ITS
FUNCTIONALITY.
BECAUSE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE
THINGS THAT WESLEY CLARK AND
OTHERS, THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE
AY OUR SECOND AMENDMENT
RIGHTS, THOSE WEAPONS THAT THEY
DECLARE TO BE AN ASSAULT WEAPON,
WHEN YOU DEFINE THEM BY
FUNCTIONALITY, THEY BECOME DEAR
RIFLES -- DEER RIFLES.
IN FACT, THE MOST POPULAR GUN TO
USE, HUNTING THE COYOTES IN THE
UNITED STATES, IS AN AR-15 WHICH
IS THE M-16 MODEL.
223 -- .223 IN CALIBER.
IT'S THE MOST POPULAR GUN THERE
IS.
IT'S A SEMIAUTOIC.
IT FUNCTIONS LIKE ANYBODY'S DIER
FLE.
IT'S JUST RIGHT FOR HUNDING --
HUNTING COYOTES.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF WEAPON
THAT WESLEY CLARK WOULD DECLARE
TO BE AN ASSAULT WEAPON.
AND IT'S THE KIND OF WEAPON THAT
WAS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF GUNS
THAT WERE DESCRIBED BY THIS
ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE
SECRETARY OF STATE HERSELF, THAT
90% OF THE GUNS USED TO COMMIT
VIOLENCE IN MEXICO ARE SMUGGLED
IN FROM THE UNITED STATES.
COME FROM THE UNITED STATES.
THAT WAS NEVER A TRUTHFUL
NUMBER.
IT WAS NEVER AN ACCURATE NUMBER,
MADAM SPEAKER.
THE NUMBER IS ACTUALLY NOT 90%
MUCH CLOSER TO 17% OF THE GUNS
USED IN CRIMES IN MEXICO, ARE
SMUGGLED INTO MEXICO FROM THE
UNITED STATES.
MOST OF THESE GUNS ARE ILLEGAL
IN THE UNITED STATES.
MEXICO HAS DIFFERENT LAWS.
SO WE CAN'T HARDLY OUTLAW GUNS
IN AMERICA BY FOLLOWING A
MEXICAN LAW.
WE'VE GOT TO DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION, THE SECOND
AMENDMENT, THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND
BEAR ARMENTS, THE HELLER
DECISION WHICH -- ARMS, THE
HELLER DECISION THAT GIVES AN
INDIVIDUAL THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL
PROTECTION, NOT TO BE DENIED IN
AN EFFECTIVE FASHION BY A LOCAL JURISDICTION.
BUT 17%, NOT 90% OF THE ILLEGAL
GUNS ARE THE GUNS USED IN
MEXICO, CAME FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
THE 90% NUMBER CAME FROM AN
EVALUATION OF RUNNING A DATABASE
OFF OF SOME SMALL SEGMENT OF
GUNS THAT WERE GATHERED UP AND
CONFISCATED THAT HAD BEEN
INVOLVED IN AT LEAST PICKED UP
WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE
COMMITTING CRIMES AND BECAUSE IN
THE UNITED STATES WE PUT A
SERIAL NUMBER ON GUNS, THEN YOU
CAN TRACK THOSE GUNS, BUT A LOT
OF THE GUNS THAT ARE MEXICO
DON'T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS.
THEY CAME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
AND OTHER CONTINENTS AROUND THE
GLOBE, CAN'T BE RACED.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT -- TRACED.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT, IF YOU TAKE
THE UNIVERSE OF GUNS THAT HAVE
BEEN GATHERED UP IN THIS BATTLE
WITH THE DRUG CARTELS AND YOU
TAKE A LOOK AT THEM, OF THOSE
THAT YOU COULD TRACE, A SMALL
UNIT, 90% CAME FROM THE UNITED
STATES, BUT OF ALL THE GUNS,
ABOUT 17% DID.
MY POINT IS, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT
AMERICAN GUNS ARE NOT THE MAINLY
PROBLEM THAT MEXICO HAS -- MAJOR
PROBLEM THAT MEXICO HAS.
THE MAJOR PROBLEM MEXICO HAS IS
THE VIOLENT DRUG CARTEL, VICIOUS
ATTACKS ON THEIR COMPETITORS AND
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MEXICO
AND SPILLING OVER INTO THE
UNITED STATES AND THAT VIOLENCE
IS ROOTED IN THE EXTREMELY HIGH
PROFITABILITY OF SELLING DRUGS
TO THE UNITED STATES, THE SOURCE
OF THAT IS THE DEMAND HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
WE'RE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE
DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS, WE'RE
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE
SMUGGLING OF ILLEGAL DRUGS INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE SMUGGLING
OF ILLEGAL PEOPLE INTO THE
UNITED STATES AND I WILL SAY
TODAY, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT
EFFECTIVELY THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS SUSPENDED WORK SITE
ENFORCEMENT OR HAS NOT BEEN A
HIGH PROFILE, ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION RAID ON AN EMPLOYER
IN THE UNITED STATES, SINCE THAT
ONE IN THE EARLY PART OF THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT TOOK
PLACE ON THE ENGINE FACTORY IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT
IN ADVANCE.
SHE ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION.
AN INVESTIGATION OF HER OWN PEOPLE.
BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT
THEY MIGHT -- THEY MIGHT BE NOT
FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE
RIGHT KIND OF INVESTIGATION.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
I THINK SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE
IDEA OF THE RAID GOING OFF AND
PEOPLE GOING OFF, AND I'M TOLD
THAT AT LEAST 28 OF THE ILLEGAL
EMPLOYEES GOT WORK PERMITS TO
GO BACK TO WORK IN THE SAME
FACTORY.
I'M TOLD THEY WERE ISSUED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY.
I SAY THIS, MADAM SPEAKER, TO
YOU, FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA TO
HEAR, YOU CANNOT CONDUCT RAIDS
ON EMPLOYERS, PROSECUTE
EMPLOYERS, AND DO SO
EFFECTIVELY, PUNISH THEM FOR
HIRING, KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY
HIRING ILLEGALS, WITHOUT
IDENTIFYING THE PEOPLE IT IS
THAT ARE WORKING ILLEGALLY FOR
THE EMPLOYER.
THAT PART OF THE RAID IS
ESSENTIAL IN BLDING THE CASE
AGAINST THE EMPLOYERS.
THEY'RE ALL PART AND PARCEL OF
THE SAME PROBLEM.
YOU HAVE TO START AT THE BASE
OF IT AND LET'S JUST SAY THERE
ARE A THOUSAND PEOPLE WORKING
IN A FACTLY AND 350 OF THEM ARE
WORKING THERE ILLEGALLY.
CAN YOU GO IN AND PICK UP THE
EMPLOYERS AND ALLEGE THEY HAVE
ILLEGAL EMPLOYEES WITHOUT SOME
INFORMATION? WITHOUT SOME PROOF?
WITHOUT DATA?
YOU GO IN AND LINE UP THE
EMPLOYEES AND RUN THEM THROUGH
THE CHECK AND VERIFY, YOU'RE
LEGAL, YOU'RE LEGAL, FINE,
WE'LL LET YOU GO BACK TO WORK.
BUT THOSE OF YOU WE SUSPECT OR
ESSENTIALLY CONFIRM, WE'RE NOT.
WE'LL BUILD A CASE AGAINST YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTARILY GO
BACK HOME, HERE'S YOUR TICKET.
GO BACK HOME, STAY THERE.
BUT DON'T COME BACK HERE AGAIN.
YOU'LL BE FACING A 20-YEAR
PENALTY IN A FEDERAL
PENITENTIARY FOR HAVING ONCE
BEEN DEPORTED COMING INTO THE
UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.
BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ENFORCING THE
LAW EFFECTIVELY ENOUGH.
BUT OF THOSE WE WOULD GATHER
INTO THAT KIND OF ROUNDUP,
THOSE HERE ILLEGALLY, WORKING
ILLEGALLY, GUILTY OF DOCUMENT
FRAUD, ALSO BRING THE CASE
AGAINST THEM AND IN THE PROCESS
OF THE CASE, YOU GATHER
INFORMATION, YOU GET SEPPINGSES
-- DEPOSITIONS, YOU GET COURT
SYSTEM THAT TELLS YOU HOW AN
EMPLOYER IS COMPLICIT IN HIRING
ILLEGALS.
AND THEN, MADAM SPEAKER, WE
NEED TO PASS THE NEW IDEA ACT.
THE NEW IDEA ACT.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE BEST PART
OF THE ENTIRE HOUR BECAUSE IT
BRINGS TO BEAR A LOGICAL
APPROACH TO A PROBLEM THAT HAS
BEEN BEFUDDING CONGRESS FOR A
LONG TIME.
CONGRESS IS ONLY BEFUDDLED
BECAUSE WE HAVE CONFLICTING
INTERESTS, POLITICAL POWER OVER
HERE, MORE ILLEGALS THAT
DAY WILL BE VOTERS BUT WILL BE
COUNTED IN THE 2010 CENSUS
ANYWAY, AND ON THIS SIDE AND
THIS SIDE, THOSE THAT HAVE A
VESTED INTEREST IN CHEAP LABOR,
THAT THEY THEY CAN LAY THE COST
OF THAT CHEAP LABOR OFF ON THE
TAXPAYER IN THE FORMF WELFARE
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE
ILLEGALLY.
BUT THE REAL SOLUTION, THE
BEST, MOST IMPORTANT SOLUTION
IS THE NEW IDEA ACT.
NEW IDEA DOES THIS IT
RE-ESTABLISHES, CLARIFIED THAT
WAGES AND BENEFITS PAID TO
ILLEGALS A NOT DEDUCTIBLE FOR
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES.
IT DENIES THE WRITEOFF AS A
BUSINESS EXPENSE, ALLOWS THE
I.R.S. TO COME IN AND TAKE THE
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS THAT
ARE THERE ON THE FORM YOU FILE
WITH YOUR INCOME TAX, RUN THOSE
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS THROUGH
THE E-VERIFY PROGRAM, IF THEY
DON'T COME BACK THAT THAT'S THE
PERSON WHO CAN LAWFULLY WORK IN
THE UNITED STATES, THEN THE
I.R.S. CAN DENY THE WRITEOFF OF
THAT BUSINESS EXPENSE AND SO,
LET'S JUST SAY YOU'RE AN
EMPLOYER AND YOU'RE PAYING AN
ILLEGAL $10 AN HOUR.
IF THEY WORK 2,000 HOURS A
YEAR, THESE ARE NUMBERS I CAN
DO THE MATH IN MY HEAD MAYBE AS
WE GO SO YOU'VE PAID THEM THEN
$20,000 TO DO THEIR WORK.
WRITTEN IT OFF IN YOUR PAYROLL
CALCULATION, SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, .0765 TIMES
TWO, 15.3% ADDED ON THAT, SO
$306 -- EXCUSE ME, THAT'S $306
ON $1,000, WOULD BE THE -- I
SHOULD BACK THIS NUMBER UP.
IN ANY CASE, YOU'D PAY SOCIAL
SECURITY, AND MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID, THERE MAY OR MAY NOT
BE WITHHOLDING FOR STATE AND
FEDERAL INCOME TAX.
BUT THAT WRITEOFF THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE FOR THE BUSINESS
EXPENSE WOULD BE THE $10 AN
HOUR PLUS THE 15.3% OF THE $10
AN HOUR SO THAT'S $1.53 AN H
THAT GOES ON FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND
MEDICAID.
YOU WOULD WRITE THAT ALL OFF AS
A BUSINESS EXPENSE.
BUT WHEN THE I.R.S. COMES IN,
RUNS THE NUMBERS THROUGH THE
DATABASE AND THE E-VERIFY
THEM OUT, SAYS, CAN'T ACCEPT
THAT, THEN THEY'D LOOK AT YOUR
INCOME TAX REPORT AND SAY, YOU
CAN'T WRITE OFF THIS $10 AN
HOUR PLUS ANOTHER $1.53 FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
YOU'RE $11.53 AN HOUR GOS FROM
THE EXPENSE SIDE OF YOUR
LEDGER, WHERE IT'S ATTACKS
DEDUCTION, PRESUMABLY OVER TO
THE PROFIT SIDE OF YOUR LEDGER,
WHERE IT'S TAXABLE INCOME.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, A $10 AN HOUR
EMPLOYEE, DENIED AS AN EXPENSE
BY AN I.R.S. AUDIT BECAUSE
THEY'RE ILLEGAL,ECOMES A $16
AN HOUR EMPLOYEE WHEN THE
I.R.S. ATTACS TO THAT THE
INTEREST AND THE PENALTY AND BY
TIME YOU PAY ABOUT A 34%
CORPORATE INCOME TAX ON THAT
FUND.
SO AN EMPLOYER WOULD MAKE A RATIONAL DECISION.
THEY WOULD LOOK AT, DON'T TO
PAY $10 AN HOUR WITH AN ILLEGAL
EMPLOYEE THAT I'M CONFIDENT IS
ILLEGAL OR STRONGLY SUSPECT IS,
ON THE CHANCE THE I.R.S. WILL
COME IN AND THERE'S GOING TO BE
A $16 AN HOUR BACK CHARGE FOR
HIM AND THE REST OF THE
ILLEGALS WORKING FOR ME, OR DO
I WANT TO TRANSITION MY
EMPLOYEES OVER TO A LEGAL WORKFORCE?
MOST EMPLOYERS DECIDE THEY'D
LIKE TO PAY $12 OR $13 OR $14
AN HOUR TO SOMEBODY LEGAL THAN
$10 AN HOUR TO SOMEONE WHO IS
ILLEGAL.
THAT'S HOW NEW IDEA WORKS.
IT USES THE I.R.S. TO COME IN
AND ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION
LAWS WE HAVE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
IT REQUIRES THE I.R.S. TO SET
UP A COOPERATIVE EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION WITH THE DATA THAT
THEY GATHER IN THEIR AUDITS,
WITH THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION WHO HAS A WHOLE
LIST OF NO WORK SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS, NO MATCH SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBERS, AND REQUIRE
THEM, THOSE TWO ENTIES,
I.R.S. AND SOCIAL SECURITY, TO
COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY WHO ALSO
HAS A DATABASE OF THOSE WHO
COME INTO THE UNITED STATES
ILLEGALLY, THOSE WHO HAVE
STOLEN I.D.'S AND DOCUMENTS,
ETC.
SO WE WOULD HAVE NOT ONLY --
YOU ALWAYS HEAR THE RIGHT HAND
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE LEFT HAND
IS DOING, BUT WHEN WE PUT NEW
IDEA IN PLACE, IT WILL BE THE
RIGHT HAND OF THE I.R.S. MAKING
SURE THE LEFT HAND OF THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
KNOW WHAT IS THE MIDDLE HAND OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS DOING.
THAT'S A THREE-WAY, A
THREE-FOR.
THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THREE HUGE
AMERICAN AGENCIES THAT WOULD BE
WORKING IN COOPERATION TO GIVE
A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE THROUGH
DENYING DEDUCTIBILITY,
INTEREST, PENALTY, THE RISK OF
PENALTIES FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY ONCE
THEY'VE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE
I.R.S.
THE RISK GETS GREATER AND
GREATER AND GREATER AND
EMPLOYERS WOULD PURGE
THEMSELVES, OR CLEAN UP THEIR
WORKPLACE RULES.
WE COULD DO THIS ALMOST
ADMINISTRATIVELY AND WITH A
POSITIVE TAX FLOW.
FURTHERMORE, MADAM SPEAKER IF
WE DO THIS, AS WE SEE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER TO SELF-DEPORT
BECAUSE WE ENFORCED OUR LAWS,
WE'LL HAVE TAKEN AT LEAST THE
SEVEN MILLION WORKING ILLEGALS
AND MOVED THEM ON OUT AND MADE
ROOM FOR SEVEN MILLION WHO ARE
LEGAL TO WORK IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THERE ARE OVER 11 MILLION
LOOKING FOR JOBS TODAY.
I THINK THE NUMBER OF WORKING
ILLEGALS IS GREATER THAN SEVEN
MILLION.
I THINK IT'S GREATER THAN 11
MILLION.
BUT A NATION THAT HAS 11
MILLION OR 11.5 MILLION PEOPLE
LOOKING FOR WORK, A NATION THAT
HAS 69 MILLION AMERICANS THAT
ARE SIMPLY NOT IN THE WORKFORCE
-- WORK FORCE ALTOGETHER, --
WORKFORCE ALTOGETHER, THEY CAN
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP,
THE CLARITY, AND THE POLITICAL
WILL.
THE ONLY WAY FOR THE POLITICAL
WILL TO COME TO THIS CONGRESS
IS IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTACT THEIR MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, THEY TURN UP THE HEAT
IF THEY SAY, PASS THE NEW IDEA
ACT, TURN THE I.R.S. LOOSE.
THEY LOVE ENFORCING THEIR JOB.
LET THEM HELP WITH THE
IMMIGRATION PART OF THIS
BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF COLLECTING THE TAX
LIABILITIES DUE THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT ANYWAY.
JUST COOPERATE WITH THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY, YOU'LL
SOLVE A LOT OF THIS INTERNALLY
WITHOUT HAVING TO DO VERY MANY
OF THE WORK SITE RAIDS.
AND WHILE THAT'S GOING ON, WE
CAN TURN THE PIVOT BACK THE
OTHER WAY AT THE BORDER, LET'S
INTERCEPT THE ILLEGAL DRUGS AND
PEOPLE COMING INTO THE UNITED
STATES, LET'S NOT HAVE OUR
NUMBER ONE FOCUS BE TRYING TO
INTERCEPT THINGS COMING INTO
MEXICO THAT ARE LEGAL IN THE
UNITED STATES, GUNS AND CASH,
LET'S INTERCEPT ILLEGAL DRUGS
AND ILLEGAL PEOPLE. IF WE DO ALL THIS, MADAM
SPEAKER, WE CAN SOLVE THIS DRUG
PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES,
WE CAN SOLVE THE ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION PROBLEM IN THE
UNITED STATES, IT IS A
COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION, I
ADVOCATE FOR IT.
I CALL UPON THIS CONGRESS TO
TAKE ACTION ON IT OR AT LEAST
HAVE A LEGITIMATE DEBATE.
IF THERE'S A FLAW IN MY
I'M STANDING HERE WAITING FOR
THAT CRITICISM, I DON'T HEAR
IT, I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: DOES
THE GENTLEMAN HAVE A MOTION.
MR. KING: I MOVE THE HOUSE DO
NOW ADJOURN.
THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS AGREED TO.